- Date
- September 26, 2010, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Orient, OH
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N667DFCentral Ohio Dragonfly Clubllc DRAGONFLY-C
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Flight control sys malf/fail
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 16, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20100926045899A
- Case key
- 77424
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 pilot's failure to disconnect the tow bridal line prior to takeoff.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot planned for a short local flight with a passenger between his continuous aero-tow operations. In an effort to expedite the quick passenger flight, the pilot disconnected the tow line; however, he left the V-Bridal line attached to the rudder post of the airplane. The pilot had conducted previous flights in the same configuration without incident. During taxi, the pilot turned the airplane 180 degrees to position it for an upwind takeoff. Shortly after rotation, the pilot experienced an uncommanded right turn. He attempted to counteract the turn to no avail. The airplane impacted terrain with the right wing and right main landing gear. Examination of the airplane by the pilot and a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the V-Bridal line became entangled in the rudder and tailwheel during the takeoff.
Factual narrative
The pilot planned for a short local flight with a passenger between on-going aero-tow operations. In order to expedite the quick passenger flight, the pilot disconnected the tow line; however, he left the V-Bridal line attached to the rudder post of the airplane. The pilot had conducted previous flights in the same configuration without incident. During taxi, the pilot turned the airplane 180 degrees to position into the wind for takeoff. Shortly after rotation, the pilot experienced a uncommanded right turn. The pilot attempted to correct; however, he was unsuccessful. Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain with the right wing and right main landing gear, and the airplane came to rest upright. Examination of the airplane by the pilot and Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the V-Bridal line became entangled in the rudder and tail-wheel during the takeoff. The forward fuselage structure was crushed, the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer were bent.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N667DF
- Reported as
- Central Ohio Dragonfly Clubllc DRAGONFLY-C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- C-88
- Airframe hours
- 251
- Engine
- Rotax 582, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 16, 2010
- Departed
- PVT · Orient, OH
- Destination
- PVT · Orient, OH
- Airport
- PVT · PVT Airstrip
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 22, 2009
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 258 total · 182 in this make and model · 200 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 68 °F
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 12, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 286 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N667DF · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.