SEA02LA170

The pilot was practicing touch and go landings on an east/west turf runway in the unregistered Sorrell Aircraft Co. HiperLight SNS-8 biplane. During the takeoff roll, and about 25 miles per hour, the aircraft ground looped to the right departing the runway and coming to rest in high brush. The pilot reported that the wind changed while taking off to a left crosswind.

On August 17, 2002, approximately 1100 Pacific daylight time, an unregistered homebuilt Sorrell Aircraft Co. HiperLight SNS-8 biplane, sustained substantial damage during a loss of control on takeoff roll on runway 27 at the Auburn Academy airstrip, Auburn, Washington. The aircraft was being flown, operated and was owned by a private pilot who was not injured during the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and there was no known flight plan filed or activated. The aircraft was to have been operated under 14 CFR 91, and originated from the pilot's residence in Enumclaw, Washington, approximately 1030.

On the morning of the accident several witnesses observed the biplane in the landing pattern at the Auburn Academy flying somewhat erratically. There was no known witness who observed the accident. Later in the day the academy manager discovered the aircraft abandoned approximately 100 feet upwind of the threshold of runway 27 and about 10 feet north of the runway edge. The aircraft had sustained damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and also some wingtip damage, and the academy manager took photographs documenting the aircraft (refer to photographs 1 through 4). The pilot was not located, however, the cockpit was observed secured with the seatbelt buckled across the seat.

The aircraft was painted with a registration "O-IBEC" on the upper right wing and left fuselage side. The aircraft was subsequently determined to have been registered "C-IBEC" in Canada as an ultralight, and was sold to an individual in Enumclaw, Washington, several years previously. The aircraft exceeded the maximum full power, level flight airspeed, the maximum stall speed, the maximum weight, and the maximum full capacity set forth in 14 CFR 103 defining ultralight aircraft (refer to Attachments A-I and FAA-I).

The pilot subsequently reported that he departed his residence in the aircraft approximately 1030 on the morning of the accident and flew to the Auburn Academy airstrip to practice landings (refer to Attachment 5010-I). After several touch and go landings he initiated takeoff on runway 27 and about 25 miles per hour the aircraft ground looped to the right departing the runway and coming to rest in high brush. The pilot reported that the "...wind changed while taking off..." and indicated a south (crosswind) at the time.