Pipistrel SINUS 912 N457EZ

Summary

On 3 November 2007 at about 18:48 local time, a Pipistrel SINUS 912 registered N457EZ, operated by Rascorp Emerald Coast Inc, was involved in an accident near Holt, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 November 2007 at 18:48

Classification

Accident

Location

Holt, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Yellow River Airstrip (FD93)

Coordinates

30.6856, -86.7472

Aircraft

Pipistrel SINUS 912

Registration

N457EZ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Rascorp Emerald Coast Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Yellow River → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW08CA024

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain. A contributing factor was the gusting crosswind.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 461-hour commercial pilot lost directional control of the single-engine experimental light sport aircraft while attempting to takeoff from Runway 27 with a prevailing crosswind. Prior to initiating the takeoff roll, the pilot noted the airstrip's windsock indicating variable winds with a maximum velocity of approximately 5 knots. Immediately after takeoff, the pilot reported a sudden drop of the right wing when the aircraft cleared the tree line surrounding the airstrip. When the pilot applied aileron and rudder inputs to level the wings, a gust of wind lifted the right wing resulting in the left wing contacting the ground. The pilot reported a loss of directional control as the aircraft spun in a counter clockwise direction. The rudder contacted the ground and the aircraft nosed-over, and came to rest in the inverted position. Both pilot were able to egress the airplane without incident. The pilot estimates that the crosswinds significantly increased when the aircraft began to clear the surrounding tree line. An automated weather reporting facility approximate 13-nautical miles to the northeast of the airstrip reported a peak wind of 10 knots near the time of the accident. On the NTSB Form 6120.1, the pilot attributes the lost of directional control to the 49-foot wingspan of the aircraft and the crosswind conditions at the airfield. The pilot reported the winds at the time of the accident as variable and gusty.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.