LAX00LA104

The pilot was performing touch-and-go landings. He completed a normal approach and landing, and, while preparing to increase power for takeoff, he became distracted by a bird that passed by the right side of the canopy. A wind gust then caused the airplane to veer off the runway centerline. The pilot took off and the airplane remained low and slow. As he entered a slight bank to the right, the wind lifted the left wing causing a greater angle of bank. The pilot was not able to correct the situation. The right wingtip impacted the terrain and the airplane collided with a runway light. There was damage to the propeller and both wings. The pilot reported that he had not experienced any mechanical malfunction with the airplane prior to the accident.

On February 21, 2000, at 1340 hours Pacific standard time, a homebuilt Cohen Van's RV-6, N264JC, ground looped while landing at the Camarillo, California, airport. The airplane, owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The local area personal flight, conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, originated at the Camarillo Airport at 1300. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported that he had completed about five touch-and-go landings to runway 26. The winds were reported to be from approximately 180 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 16 knots. The pilot established the final approach about 85 mph with full flaps. The glide path, power setting, and airspeed appeared normal, and the airplane was in line with the runway centerline. The pilot reported that the flare and landing were also normal. While preparing to increase the power for takeoff, the pilot became distracted by a bird that passed by the right side of the canopy; he was worried about a bird strike. At that time, a wind gust caused the airplane to veer off the centerline. The pilot opted to takeoff. The airplane lifted off from the runway but remained low and slow. The pilot reported that he entered a slight bank to the right. The wind lifted the left wing causing a greater angle of bank. The pilot stated that because of the slow airspeed, the ailerons were not responsive enough for the desired correction. The right wingtip impacted the terrain and the airplane collided with a runway light. There was damage to the propeller and both wings.

The pilot reported that he had not experienced any mechanical malfunction with the airplane prior to the accident.