Pilot Debrief

LOEHLE AIRCRAFT CORP LOEHLE P-40 near Tullahoma, TN — 2011-10-03

Final reportERA12CA013
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Date
2011-10-03
Location
Tullahoma, TN, USA
Airport
THA
Aircraft
LOEHLE AIRCRAFT CORP LOEHLE P-40
Registration
N414L
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff.

NTSB narrative

Shortly after taking off and the landing gear left the ground, the airplane entered a bank of about 10 degrees to the left. The pilot initially assumed that the bank had been induced by a crosswind, but the bank continued to increase as the airplane's speed increased. The pilot then leveled the airplane about 75 feet above the ground and slowed to 50 mph in an attempt to evaluate the control issues. While applying full right control stick and full right rudder, the bank would not decrease, so the pilot attempted to perform a forced landing with the bank angle about 45 degrees. When the pilot decreased engine power, the airplane nose rose, and the airplane stalled and spun to the left. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the nose, cockpit, and left wing. No broken flight control cables were found during a postaccident examination; however, due to the extent of impact-related damage to the airplane, operation of the ailerons could not be verified. When asked how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot suggested that a precautionary/aborted landing should have been undertaken upon the first indication of control issues during the takeoff. The airplane's ballistic parachute system did not activate.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Immediate precautionary/aborted landing should have been undertaken upon first indication of control issues.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents7

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