Pilot Debrief

SIMPSON Amphibeous Trike/No near Chehalis, WA — 2014-01-25

Final reportWPR14LA104
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Date
2014-01-25
Location
Chehalis, WA, USA
Airport
CLS
Aircraft
SIMPSON Amphibeous Trike/No
Registration
N440LS
Category
Trike
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The failure of the left wing prong.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, just after liftoff from the runway, the trike began to pull "hard" to the left. The pilot then looked to the left and saw the left wing flapping. He subsequently performed a modified traffic pattern to return to the runway to land. After turning onto the final leg of the traffic pattern, the trike began to oscillate, but the pilot was able to land the trike. As soon as the trike touched down on the runway, the left wing "grabbed," and the trike flipped over and then came to rest on its left side. The pilot reported that the trike lost the left wing prong after takeoff, and a responding police officer found a piece of the left wing prong near the runway departure point. The loss of the wing prong likely led to the left wing flapping after departure and the pilot's subsequent inability to maintain directional control after landing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff upon noticing left wing issue.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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