# NTSB ERA22LA437: Whiting Cleon Glasair SH-2, N5125X, Palmetto, FL, January 20, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 20, 2022, 12:20, time zone not recorded - Place: Palmetto, FL - Coordinates: 27.642346, -82.520169 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6423&lon=-82.5202&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106550 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA437 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106550/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106550 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA437 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control during takeoff roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Whiting Cleon GLASAIR SH-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05655QQ), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Whiting Cleon GLASAIR SH-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05655QQ), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Whiting Cleon GLASAIR SH-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05655QQ), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Whiting Cleon GLASAIR SH-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05655QQ), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the takeoff roll the airplane began to drift left of the runway centerline. He applied right rudder, but did not have enough rudder authority to correct the airplane’s direction. The airplane drifted off the left side of the runway and struck an embankment resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot also reported that, if he had let the tail lift off the ground more gradually, he likely would have had enough rudder authority to maintain centerline. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5125X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5125X), registered now, S/N 114 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WHITING CLEON GLASAIR SH-2 - Registry model: [Whiting Cleon GLASAIR SH-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/whiting-cleon-glasair-sh-2) (registry code 05655QQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 114 - Year built: 1986 - Airframe hours: 770 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 10, 2021, 6 hours before - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 48X, Manatee, runway 25, 3,120 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 29, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 95.7 total, 8.4 in this make and model, 20.2 as pilot in command, 25.9 in the last 90 days, 10.7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: TPA, 19 nm away - METAR: METAR KTPA 201653Z 18008KT 10SM FEW200 24/11 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP200 T02390111 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20220120019289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220120019289A), Jan 20, 2022: Whiting Cleon GLASAIR SH-2, Palmetto, FL, Substantial damage. At 12:20 pm 20/01/2022 [privacy data omitted] a glasair SH2 was on takeoff roll when the PIC pushed forward on control yoke with full power applied he raised… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 1, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106550. 5.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14976396&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22LA437_%206121.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14976210&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.