FTW94LA213

The airplane bounced during the landing flare and porpoised for three cycles. The pilot added full power to initiate a go-around. Control was lost and the airplane departed the runway, impacted a runway marker, cartwheeled, and came to rest inverted. The fuel tank ruptured and the pilot sustained burns over 50% of his body. Density altitude was 7,700 feet. The pilot stated that the size and design of the rudder was inadequate to counteract p-factor during an aborted landing. No evidence of previous rudder deficiencies were found during consultations with eaa representatives.

On June 27, 1994, at 0723 mountain daylight time, a Derr Tri-Q-100 homebuilt airplane, N500JD, was destroyed while landing at the Albuquerque International Airport (ABQ), near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight.

According to Albuquerque Air Traffic Control Tower personnel, the airplane made what appeared to be a normal landing on Runway 03. The pilot stated that during the flare to land, the airplane bounced to a height of 10 to 15 feet above the runway, and porpoised for 3 cycles. The pilot also stated that he added full power to execute a "go-around." He added that the airplane "moved abruptly left off the runway, hit the 4,000 feet remaining sign, cartwheeled, and came to rest inverted."

A post-impact fire destroyed the cockpit area of the airplane. The fuel tank, which is an integral part of the pilot's seat, ruptured along the seam, and the pilot suffered second degree burns on over 50% of his body.

Density altitude was 7,700 feet. The airplane was issued a registration certificate on March 11, 1989, and an airworthiness certificate on October 20, 1992. The pilot stated that size and design of the rudder is inadequate to counteract the P-factor encountered during an aborted landing. See enclosed pilot's narrative attached to NTSB Form 6120.1/2 for other comments on design factors.