# Accident 20200519006859A: Rhoads Larry E SOPWITH BABY, Lee'S Summit, MO, May 19, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 19, 2020, 17:45 local time
- Place: Lee'S Summit, MO
- Airport: Lee'S Summit Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.9597° N, 94.3739° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9597&lon=-94.3739&mi=10
- Aircraft: N41LR, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41LR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Rhoads Larry E SOPWITH BABY (registry code 05638QH, https://openairdocs.org/model/rhoads-larry-e-sopwith-baby) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotec R3600 (registry code 55610, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotec-r3600) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RHOADS LARRY E SOPWITH BABY
- Reported engine: ROTEC R3600
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,186 total, 1 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN20CA184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA184) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200519006859A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON MAY 19, 2020 AT OR AROUND 1645 WHILE ATTEMPTING INITIAL TAKEOFF IN N41LR, AN EXPERIMENTAL WWI REPLICA AIRCRAFT, THE PILOT STATES HE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE GROUND LOOP WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT COMPLETED HIS TAKEOFF CHECKLIST PRIOR TO THE THRESHOLD OF RUNWAY 36 AT LEE'S SUMMIT AIRPORT (LXT). PILOT MADE RADIO CALL ON LEE'S SUMMIT TRAFFIC FREQUENCY, CLEARD THE APPROACH TO RUNWAY 36 AND PROCEEDED TO LINE UP ON THE CENTERLINE OF THE RUNWAY. PILOT POSITIONED THE STICK WELL FORWAD AND ADVANCED THE POWER WHILE MAINTAINING THE NOSE DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE TAIL CAME UP AND THEN THE RIGHT WING STARTED TO COME UP AND DID NOT REPSOND TO CONTROL INPUTS TO GO BACK DOWN. PILOT CLAIMS TO HAVE PULLED THE POWER TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF AND FAILED TO CONTROL THE RIGHT SWERVE OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE LEFT WHEEL AXLE FAILED DUE TO THE SIDE LOADING RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING AND PROP STRIKE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN20CA184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA184), May 19, 2020: Rhoads, Larry E Sopwith Baby (N41LR), Lee's Summit, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The airplane builder's improper installation of the lower right wing which resulted in an uncommanded left roll and the subsequent loss of control.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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