What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On takeoff roll, when the pilot raised the tail the aircraft had no rudder authority. Aircraft weather-vaned veered to the left, causing the bottom of the right wing to impact a pasi light on the side of the runway. The impact of the light caused damage to the right wing, including the main spar, fuel tank, and elevator. No injuries were sustained.
As the FAA filed it
ON TAKEOFF ROLL, WHEN THE PILOT RAISED THE TAIL THE AIRCRAFT HAD NO RUDDER AUTHORITY. AIRCRAFT WEATHER-VANED VEERED TO THE LEFT, CAUSING THE BOTTOM OF THE RIGHT WING TO IMPACT A PASI LIGHT ON THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE IMPACT OF THE LIGHT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING, INCLUDING THE MAIN SPAR, FUEL TANK, AND ELEVATOR. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.