IAD98LA082

The pilot/builder began the takeoff roll on runway 25 in his experimental home-built airplane with a right crosswind that gusted to 18 knots. The pilot reported that after rotation the airplane began an uncommanded left turn that he could not control with the aileron. The airplane continued left and the airspeed fluctuated between 20 and 40 knots throughout the descending turn. The airplane impacted the ground in a left skidding turn on the south side of runway 25. After the accident, the pilot reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane and that the accident could have been avoided by lifting off at a higher airspeed.

On July 20, 1998, at 1745 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Team HI-MAX-1700R, N3546V, was substantially damaged as it impacted the terrain on initial take off from the Chautauqua County/Jamestown Airport (JHW), Jamestown, New York. The certificated private pilot/builder/owner received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot reported that he took off from intersection "Golf" on runway 25, climbed to about 100 feet agl, when the airplane began to go left, and he could not get the nose of the airplane to go to the right. He stated that control inputs to the rudder and ailerons were not stopping his leftward ground track.

The pilot stated that he was puzzled by the situation, and as the airplane was tracking 90 degrees off runway heading, he realized that he was not able to maintain flight, and may have to "crash land." The pilot reported that he continued his turn left and entered into a left downwind for runway 25. He stated that the engine was producing power throughout the entire maneuver, the ailerons seemed ineffective, and the airspeed indicator was fluctuating between 20-40 knots.

A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the wreckage and reported that the airplane impacted the ground southeast of the intersection of runways 13 and 25, and skidded about 15 feet before coming to a stop in an upright position. The Inspector stated that the ground scaring, and its relationship with the final resting position of the airplane, indicated that the airplane impacted the ground sideways, into the right wing, shearing off both main gear which were lying on the left side of the airplane. The Inspector reported that the left wing's leading and trailing edge spars were broken, and the bottom of the fuselage was distorted aft of the attaching point for the main landing gear.

The recorded winds for JHW at 1649, and 1759 were: 290 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 18 knots, and 290 degrees at 10 knots, respectively.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.

In the Operator/Owner Safety Recommendation section of the NTSB Pilot/Operator report (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented), the pilot responded: "1. Delaying or canceling the flight until [the] wind became less 2. Accelerating to higher speed before lifting off runway."

According to Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 61-23C, Private Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge:

"The effect of torque increases in direct proportion to engine power, airspeed, and airplane attitude. If the power setting is high, the airspeed slow, and the angle of attack high, the effect of torque is greater. During takeoffs and climbs, when the effect of torque is most pronounced, the pilot must apply sufficient right rudder pressure to counteract the left-turning tendency and maintain a straight takeoff path."

The Team HI-MAX-1700R was an experimental airplane with a weight ranged from a minimum of 332 pounds, to a maximum of 554 pounds.

The pilot reported 450 hours of flight experience, 50 hours of which were in make and model.