Simpson AMPHIBIOUS TRIKE N440LS

Summary

On 23 September 2008 at about 18:10 local time, a Simpson AMPHIBIOUS TRIKE registered N440LS, operated by Laurence R Simpson, was involved in an accident near Lake Chelan, Washington, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 September 2008 at 18:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Lake Chelan, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Lake Chelan (S10)

Coordinates

47.8661, -119.9428

Aircraft

Simpson AMPHIBIOUS TRIKE

Registration

N440LS

Engines

1

Operator

Laurence R Simpson

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chelan → Lake Chelan

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA08LA207

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the initial climb, which resulted in an inadvertent aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in the float-equipped, weight-shift airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had transported the float-equipped weight-shift amateur-built airplane to the training facility for assistance in having it certified, as well as to receive flight instruction in the airplane. When the flight instructor informed the pilot that his flight training would be postponed for about two weeks, the pilot agreed to wait. The flight instructor cautioned the pilot not to attempt to fly the airplane until he had received adequate training, to which the pilot agreed. Subsequently, the pilot elected to fly the airplane without having received any flight instruction. During the takeoff, witnesses reported observing the airplane climb rapidly, followed by a left wing low, steep nose down attitude prior to impacting the ground with its left wing, consistent with a stall/spin. According to the flight instructor, the airplane's 19-meter wing, known for its lifting capacity, most probably caused the inexperienced pilot to think that he was airborne, when the airplane was only light on its wheels, resulting in the pilot pushing out on the control bar thinking he would climb out. However, not having enough airspeed to sustain flight, the wing stalled. No pre-impact anomalies were reported with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.