# NTSB WPR13CA018: Albright Stan Kitfox Super Sport, N960WM, Twin Bridges, MT, October 18, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 18, 2012, 14:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Twin Bridges, MT - Coordinates: 45.533611, -112.302497 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5336&lon=-112.3025&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 85376 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA018 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85376/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85376 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA018 ## Probable cause The airplane builder’s failure to rig the flight controls correctly, which resulted in a loss of control after takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: aileron control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022710): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022710/cases.md) - [Flight control system: tE flap actuator](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022752): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022752/cases.md) - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot attempted to perform a full-flap soft-field takeoff in the experimental light sport airplane. The pilot had flown about 16 hours in the accident airplane in the 4 months since he purchased it from the airplane builder; however, this was his first attempt at full-flap soft-field takeoff in this airplane. As the airplane left the ground, it rolled abruptly to the right. The right wing tip struck the ground, and the airplane cartwheeled, coming to rest pointing in the opposite direction of intended travel. The right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. Postaccident examination revealed that the airplane's flaperons were misrigged and that the resultant difference in flaperon deflection was more extreme in the full flap position. In the full flap position with a full left control deflection input, the right flaperon moved 3 degrees more and the left flaperon 3 degrees less than they would have if properly rigged. The asymmetric nature of the flaperon deflections induced an adverse yaw to the right despite the pilot's corrective control inputs. Examination of the airplane maintenance logbook revealed that the airplane builder performed the most recent annual airworthiness inspection 4 1/2 months before the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot attempted to perform a full-flap soft-field takeoff in the experimental light sport airplane. The pilot had flown about 16 hours in the accident airplane in the 4 months since he purchased it from the airplane builder; however, this was his first attempted full-flap soft-field takeoff in this airplane. As the airplane left the ground, it rolled abruptly to the right. The right wing tip struck the ground, and the airplane cartwheeled, coming to rest pointing in the opposite direction of intended travel. The right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. Postaccident examination revealed that the airplane's flaperons were misrigged and that the resultant difference in flaperon deflection was more extreme in the full flap position. In the full flap position with a full left control deflection input, the right flaperon moved 3 degrees more and the left flaperon 3 degrees less than they would have if properly rigged. The asymmetric nature of the flaperon deflections induced an adverse yaw to the right despite the pilot's corrective control inputs. Examination of the airplane maintenance logbook revealed that the airplane builder performed the most recent annual airworthiness inspection 4 1/2 months before the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: N960WM (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: ALBRIGHT STAN KITFOX SUPER SPORT - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: KA09088156 - Airframe hours: 71 - Engines: ROTAX 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Charles W d'Autremont - Registered owner: Charles W d'Autremont - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2012 - Departed: K7S1, Twin Bridges, MT - Destination: K7S1, Twin Bridges, MT - Airport: K7S1, Twin Bridges, runway 17, 4,300 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; last flight review August 7, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 3,750 total, 16 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KDLN, 20 nm away ## 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 20121018023149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121018023149A), Oct 18, 2012: Albright, Stan KITFOX SUPER SPORT, Twin Bridges, MT, Substantial damage. After completing several takeoff's and landings on the accident flight, the pilot initiated his first full-flap takeoff in the accident aircraft. Immediately… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 20, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85376. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 793 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381471&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statements (item 2, .PDF, 849 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381473&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Ruby Valley Aviation Inspection Report (item 3, .PDF, 501 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381474&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Ruby%20Valley%20Aviation%20Inspection%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Annual Inspection (item 4, .PDF, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381798&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Annual%20Inspection-Redacted.PDF 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.