Pilot Debrief

QUEST KODIAK 100 near Sheridan, WY — 2015-10-09

Final reportCEN16LA019
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Date
2015-10-09
Location
Sheridan, WY, USA
Airport
KSHR
Aircraft
QUEST KODIAK 100
Registration
N153RW
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The loss of airplane control during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was conducting a personal local flight. Two witnesses reported observing the airplane lift off in an extreme nose-high attitude, level off, and then reenter a nose-high attitude before it descended and impacted the ground 1,500 ft south of the runway. After the accident, the pilot told the airport manager that the flight controls had jammed during takeoff. The airport manager reported that he examined the airplane and that all of the flight controls moved freely. During subsequent examination, flight control continuity from the cockpit controls to all of the flight control surfaces was confirmed, and all of the flight controls moved freely. The floorboards were removed to check for debris, but none was found. The pilot reported that the last flight in the airplane was flown by another pilot who had mentioned to him that someone in the service center had given him a red foam block with a streamer, which he had placed between the elevator and the horizontal stabilizer as instructed. The accident pilot stated that he did not see the foam block or feel it during the control checks, which were normal. The recovery crew, airport manager, and insurance adjuster reported that they did not find a red foam block with a streamer.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have discovered foam block during preflight or pre-takeoff check.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • FDR / data
  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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