LAX04CA010

NTSB accident investigation · Avions Max Holste MH 1521 Broussard · El Cajon, CA · October 11, 2003

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
October 11, 2003, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC)
Place
El Cajon, CA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N239HLAvions Max Holste MH 1521 Broussard
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 30, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration FSDO
FAA report
20031011034589A
Case key
58139

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's premature liftoff and his failure to attain an adequate takeoff airspeed, which resulted in a stall. The pilot's failure to correctly set the pitch trim before takeoff was a factor.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightTakeoff
Trim setting - not setPilot in commandFactor
Lift-off - prematurePilot in command
Airspeed - not attainedPilot in commandCause
Stall - inadvertentPilot in command
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The airplane stalled during the takeoff initial climb. After an expedited takeoff and 3 seconds into the takeoff roll, the pilot applied forward stick to raise the tail. After 5 seconds, the tail was still on the ground. He then moved his left hand to the stick so that he could use his right hand to apply nose down trim. However, before he could apply it and prior to attaining takeoff airspeed, the airplane ballooned about 8 feet into the air. As it recontacted the ground, the airplane bounced and the right wing stalled. The right wing impacted the ground, followed by the left main gear, and then the left wing tip. The propeller contacted the ground as the left main gear hit, and the engine stopped. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane. The pilot reported that he took off prior to reaching takeoff airspeed and stalled the airplane. He felt that additional nose down trim could have prevented the accident.

Factual narrative

On October 11, 2003, about 1145 Pacific daylight time, an Avions Max Holste MH 1521 Broussard, N239HL, stalled during takeoff from Gillespie Field (SEE), El Cajon, California. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and three passengers were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed. The personal flight, en route to San Felipe, Mexico, was originating at the time of the accident.

In a written statement the pilot reported that he was number 3 for takeoff, with seven airplanes waiting behind him. He did an expedited takeoff, rather than his usual takeoff procedures of lining up on the centerline and releasing the brakes after reaching 2,500 rpm. The initial takeoff roll was normal. After approximately 3 seconds, the pilot applied forward stick to raise the tail. After 5 seconds, the tail was still on the ground. He then moved his left hand to the stick so that he could use his right hand to apply nose down trim. However, before he could apply it, the airplane ballooned about 8 feet into the air. As it recontacted the ground, the airplane bounced, and the right wing stalled. The right wing impacted the ground, followed by the left main gear, and then the left wing tip. The propeller contacted the ground as the left main gear hit, and the engine stopped. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane and reported that "additional nose down trim" could have prevented the accident.

In a telephone conversation, the pilot reported that he took off prior to reaching takeoff airspeed and stalled the airplane.

Aircraft

Registration
N239HL
Reported as
Avions Max Holste MH 1521 Broussard
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
239
Engine
Pratt & Whitney 985, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Gene Chaffin
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Departed
KSEE · El Cajon, CA
Destination
MMSF · San Felipe
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
KSEE · Gillespie, runway 27

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
52
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3
Flight hours
1,754 total · 201 in this make and model · 21 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N239HL · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.