CHI93LA121

The pilot started on a cross-country flight with 18 gallons of fuel in the right tank, and 13 gallons of fuel in the left tank. This was the first time the airplane had been flown with fuel in the left tank. While en route, the pilot noticed that the right tank was almost empty, and the left tank had more fuel than he started with. The pilot attempted to make a precautionary landing at the Lincoln, Missouri, Airport, to troubleshoot the problem. When he made a left base-to-final turn he could not level the wings using full right aileron and rudder. The airplane made a 360 degree left turn. The pilot got the wings level at about 50 feet agl, and landed in a field next to the airport. He made an adjustment to the fuel vent system, and took off again. On takeoff the airplane started a hard left turn and crashed.

On March 28, 1993, at 1400 central standard time, a Manville Avid Flyer, N714J, sustained substantial damage when it crashed during takeoff from the Lincoln Municipal Airport, Lincoln, Missouri. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.

The flight originated at Nevada, Missouri, with an intended destination of Mexico, Missouri. En route, the pilot observed very little fuel in the right wing, and that the left wing was full. This was more fuel in the left wing than the pilot said he had started with. The pilot attempted a precautionary landing at the Lincoln Municipal Airport to investigate the fuel imbalance. He stated he could not raise the left wing to stop base-to-final turn, and made a 360 degree turn, landing in a field adjacent to the airport. After inspecting the airplane, the pilot attempted to takeoff. He stated, "...shortly after leaving ground effect the left wing dropped and I began a hard left turn." The airplane struck the ground in a left turn.