- Date
- September 27, 2003, 09:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place
- Newnan, GA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- UNREGSherman Holie Freebird
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 28, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Atlanta FSDO
- Case key
- 58063
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the aileron control rod, and subsequent loss of control in-flight.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
According to the pilot, during climb out from runway 14, the airplane began a slow right turn. The pilot attempted to make a correction but the flight controls did not respond. The pilot reduced power and the airplane turned hard to the right and impacted the ground. Examination of the flight controls revealed the aileron control rod was broken at the stick.
Factual narrative
On September 27, 2003, at 0945 eastern daylight time, an unregistered Freebird airplane, operated by a student pilot, collided with the runway during takeoff from Newnan Coweta County Airport, Newnan, Georgia. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The student pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The flight departed Newnan Coweta County Airport, Georgia on September 27, 2003 at 0940.
According to the pilot, during climb-out from runway 14, the airplane began a slow uncommanded right turn. The pilot attempted to make a correction but the flight controls did not respond. The pilot reduced power and the airplane turned hard to the right and collided with the ground.
Examination of the airplane revealed the nose of the airplane separated from the airframe and the right wing was buckled. Examination of the flight controls revealed the aileron control rod was broken at the stick, and the part had a total time of 39 hours before failure. No other mechanical anomalies reported by the pilot.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Sherman Holie Freebird
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Engine
- 2si 67L-70, 70 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 103
- Registered owner
- Robert Beasley
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- CCO · Newnan, GA
- Destination
- CCO · Newnan, GA
- Airport
- CCO · Newnan Coweta County, runway 14, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Injuries
- Minor
- Flight hours
- 2,500 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- CCO