- Date
- May 25, 2013, 19:50 local (23:50 UTC)
- Place
- West Palm Beach, FL
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N220ACBoswell John J AIR CAM 912S
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 23, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20130525010139I
- Case key
- 87139
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 maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff.
Findings · 2
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
According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll on a runway 8L, a 3,679-foot by 75-foot, turf runway, as full power was applied, the airplane veered to the left off the runway, and the pilot attempted to arrest the turn by applying full right rudder. After liftoff, when the airplane was about 5 feet above ground level, the airplane turned to the right in response to the rudder input, and settled back onto the runway. The airplane then impacted the runway in a level right turn, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The wind reported at an airport 12 miles to the southeast of the accident location were variable from 040 degrees at 11 knots.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll on a runway 08L, a 3,679-foot by 75-foot, turf runway, as full power was applied, the airplane veered to the left off the runway, and the pilot attempted to arrest the turn by applying full right rudder. After liftoff, when the airplane was about 5 feet above ground level, the airplane in response to the rudder input then turned to the right, and settled back onto the runway. The airplane then impacted the runway in a level right turn, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The winds reported at an airport 12 miles to the southeast of the accident location were variable from 040 degrees at 11 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N220AC
- Reported as
- Boswell John J AIR CAM 912S
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- AC-113
- Airframe hours
- 264
- Engines
- Rotax 912S, 100 horsepower, reciprocatingRotax 912S, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- John Workman
- Registered owner
- Barrels Of Fun Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 14, 2013
- Departed
- F45 · West Palm Beach, FL
- Destination
- SUA · Stuart, FL
- Airport
- F45 · North Palm Beach County Airpor, runway 08L, 3,679 × 75 ft, grass/turf
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
- 35
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 4, 2012
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 161 total · 21 in this make and model · 62 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 40° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- PBI, 12 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 674 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.