CEN18LA041

The commercial pilot completed a preflight inspection of the airplane before departing on a local flight. Upon adding power for takeoff, the airplane initially tracked straight but then started to turn right; the pilot was unable to correct the turn or stop the airplane, and the airplane exited the side of the runway before coming to rest inverted. An examination of the steering and rudder system did not find any preimpact abnormalities. The pilot added that he did not notice any undirected braking or unusual taxi characteristics of the airplane before the takeoff. An automated weather observation facility located about 5 miles south of the accident site recorded a crosswind at 4 knots about the time of the accident, which the pilot should have been able to compensate for. Given the lack of mechanical anomalies and light wind conditions, it is likely that the pilot failed to maintain directional control during the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion.

On November 22, 2017, about 1040 central standard time, a Cessna 182S airplane, N7111W departed the runway and impacted terrain while taking off from the Bolingbrook's Clow International Airport (1C5), Bolingbrook, Illinois. The pilot, sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged during the accident. The airplane was registered to Better Living Aviation, Inc, Wilmington, Delaware, and operated by A&M Aviation, Bolingbrook, Illinois, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that he used the airplane's checklist to complete a preflight inspection. He taxied the airplane to the warm-up pad to complete the checklist items and configure the airplane for the takeoff. He then taxied on to runway 36. The pilot continued that he aligned the airplane with the centerline and slowly added takeoff power. The initial takeoff roll was straight down the runway, but the airplane started to turn right. The pilot was unable to correct the turn or stop the airplane, before the airplane exited the side of the runway. The airplane became airborne, settled and impacted a ditch, and came to rest upside down. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the airplane's nose landing gear, and wings were damaged, and the fuselage sustained substantial damage during the accident. Additionally, an examination of the airplane's steering and rudder system did not find any preimpact abnormalities. The pilot added that he did not remember what else he did when the airplane started to turn, and why it did not work. Nor did he noticed any undirected braking of the airplane, or unusual taxi characteristics of the airplane prior to it turning to the right. At 1055, the automated weather observation facility located at the Lewis University Airport (KLOT), about 5 miles south of the accident site recorded; wind at 240 degrees at 4 knots.