Hirn Associates ZODIAC CH601XL N650WP

Summary

On 17 July 2016 at about 15:30 local time, a Hirn Associates ZODIAC CH601XL registered N650WP was involved in an accident near Hedgesville, West Virginia, United States. One person was 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

17 July 2016 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Hedgesville, West Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Green Landings (WV22)

Coordinates

39.5747, -77.9714

Aircraft

Hirn Associates ZODIAC CH601XL

Registration

N650WP

Category

Airplane

Year built

2011

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hedgesville → Hedgesville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA16CA259

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s inadvertent activation of the elevator trim, which resulted in a premature takeoff and subsequent loss of airplane control and collision with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the experimental, amateur-built airplane reported that, during the takeoff roll while about 35 knots, he realized that he forgot to turn on the airplane's anticollision lights. He reached over to turn them on, and his forearm brushed across the top of the control stick and activated the electric trim to a full, nose-up position. The airplane suddenly climbed in a steep, nose-high attitude to about 60 ft before it started to roll left toward trees. As the airplane rolled left, the pilot attempted to compensate with right rudder and aileron input, but it had little effect on directional control, so he chose to turn back to the left and try to climb over the trees. The airplane impacted the top of the tree canopy then descended through the trees and impacted the ground. The wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.