- Date
- July 31, 2016, 07:00 local (11:00 UTC)
- Place
- Valkaria, FL
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N4367XTrick Trikes Storm
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 10, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20160731012669A
- Case key
- 93719
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 premature rotation during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a hard landing.
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 of the weight-shift-control aircraft reported that, during takeoff, he pitched upward excessively early for the aircraft's weight. Several feet above the ground, the aircraft descended and bounced off the runway. The pilot tried to regain control and take off again, but the aircraft came back down and bounced on the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the aircraft slid down the runway about 75 ft before coming to rest. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the aircraft that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuselage was substantially damaged.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the weight-shift aircraft reported that during takeoff he pitched upward excessively early for the aircraft's weight. Several feet above the ground, the aircraft descended and bounced off the runway. The pilot tried to regain control and take off again, but the aircraft came back down and bounced on the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed and the aircraft slid down the runway approximately 75 feet before coming to rest. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the aircraft. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuselage was substantially damaged.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4367X
- Reported as
- Trick Trikes Storm (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Weight-shift
- Serial number
- TTS 020
- Built
- 2007
- Engine
- Rotax 582, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 19, 2016
- Departed
- X59 · Valkaria, FL
- Destination
- X59 · Valkaria, FL
- Airport
- X59 · Valkaria, runway 14, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- None
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
- 68
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Sport Pilot
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Last flight review
- October 16, 2014
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 274 total · 274 in this make and model · 205 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- KMLB, 9 nm away
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 30, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.3 MB 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.