# NTSB NYC05CA080: Palen Sopwith Camel, N7157Q, Rhinebeck, NY, May 9, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 9, 2005, 18:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Rhinebeck, NY - Coordinates: 41.971389, -73.862777 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9714&lon=-73.8628&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 61454 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05CA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61454/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05CA080 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff roll. A factor in the accident was the uneven runway, and the pilot's lack of total experience in make and model. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, takeoff - roll/run - lack of experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - uneven (contributing factor) - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis The pilot went to the airport for the purpose of conducting an initial checkout in the single-seat replica of a Sopwith Camel. Assisted by a flight instructor who was "highly experienced" in the same make and model, the pilot completed the preflight, rehearsed various cockpit operations, and then boarded to practice taxiing. Afterwards, the pilot conducted a debriefing with the instructor, and then executed his first flight, which lasted approximately 25 minutes. After completing the flight, the pilot conducted another debriefing, and then attempted a second flight. During the takeoff roll, the airplane accelerated "normally" down the turf runway with the tailwheel in the up position for 4 to 6 seconds, and then nosed over, causing substantial damage to the top wing, and vertical stabilizer. Examination of the runway revealed the initial propeller ground scars were collocated with a set of ruts running perpendicular to the takeoff roll. At the time of the accident the pilot had approximately 1 hour in make and model. ## Factual narrative On May 9, 2005, about 1845 eastern daylight time, an amateur built Sopwith Camel, N7157Q, was substantially damaged during takeoff from the Old Rhinebeck Airport (NY94), Rhinebeck, New York. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight. No flight plan had been filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he went to the airport for the purpose of conducting an initial checkout in the single seat replica of a Sopwith Camel. Assisted by a "highly experienced" flight instructor in the same make and model, the pilot completed the preflight, rehearsed various cockpit operations, and then boarded to practiced taxiing. Afterwards, the pilot conducted a debriefing with the instructor, and then executed his first flight, which lasted approximately 25 minutes. After completing the flight, the pilot conducted another debriefing, and then attempted a second flight. During the takeoff roll, the airplane accelerated "normally" down the turf runway with the tailwheel in the up position for 4 to 6 seconds, and then nosed over, causing substantial damage to the top wing, and vertical stabilizer. At the time of the accident the pilot had approximately 1 hour in make and model. Examination of the runway revealed the initial propeller ground scars were collocated with a set of ruts running perpendicular to the takeoff roll. The pilot added that a new hangar had been erected on the airport, and that "heavy" construction vehicles had been crossing the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7157Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7157Q), registered now, S/N 1990, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Palen Sopwith Camel - Registry model: [Palen J H Cole PALENS SOPWITH CAMEL](https://openairdocs.org/model/palen-j-h-cole-palens-sopwith-camel) (registry code 056163J) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1990 - Airframe hours: 100 - Engines: Gnome Gnome 160 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: RhinebeckAerodrome Museum - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2004, 1.3 hours before - Departed: NY94, RHINEBECK, NY - Airport: NY94, Old Rhinebeck, runway 2, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review March 1, 2005; seat: single; flight hours: 17,450 total, 1 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: POU ## 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 20050509009689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050509009689A), May 9, 2005: Amtr CAMEL, Rhinebeck, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) During the take off run, the aircraft struck a depression in the runway causing the airplane to flip over, causing substantial damage to the airplane. 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.