Day William L MINICOUPE N853WD

Summary

On 16 August 2014 at about 13:10 local time, a Day William L MINICOUPE registered N853WD, operated by Day William L, was involved in an accident near Baltimore, Maryland, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 August 2014 at 13:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

Martin State (MTN)

Coordinates

39.3219, -76.4081

Aircraft

Day William L MINICOUPE

Registration

N853WD

Category

Airplane

Year built

2013

Operator

Day William L

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Baltimore → Baltimore

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14CA408

Nobody was injured.

The pilot/owner/builder's improper weight and balance calculations, which rendered the airplane uncontrollable in the pitch axis.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot/owner/builder of the airplane, he conducted taxi tests, and then a final engine run-up and flight control check prior to takeoff on the airplane's second flight. After rotation, the airplane reached approximately 3 feet above the runway when the nose dropped, and application of full up elevator had no effect. The airplane struck the runway nose first, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall. This was the identical outcome as the first flight several months prior. An FAA inspector estimated that the builder had added about 63 pounds with his modifications to the original airplane plans. The pilot performed the weight and balance on the airplane using bathroom scales and stated that there were no mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. His NTSB Form 6120.1 Operator/Owner Safety Recommendation was: "Re-weigh aircraft with calibrated scales to determine weight and balance. Fix apparent nose heavy aircraft with appropriate movement of the battery or additional weight in the tail section."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.