TODD FOLEY ZENITH 701
Mount Airy, NC — December 1, 2017
Event Information
| Date | December 1, 2017 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA18CA067 |
| Event ID | 20171202X94738 |
| Location | Mount Airy, NC |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 36.46111, -80.55305 |
| Airport | MOUNT AIRY/SURRY COUNTY |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | TODD FOLEY |
| Model | ZENITH 701 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Full Narrative
The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane reported that, during takeoff, he raised the nose after reaching about 20 miles per hour (mph), and about 40 mph the airplane lifted off the runway. He "held the stick back just a little [too] long and it started to tip stall to the left and [he] pushed the stick forward." He added that he applied right aileron and rudder because the airplane was drifting to the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane aerodynamically stalled, bounced on the runway and the right wheel separated from the airplane. He then, with full power, continued to fly and make right aileron and rudder inputs to get back over the runway. The airplane impacted the ground and came to rest inverted.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage and wings.
The automated weather observation system at the accident airport reported, that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 090° at 4 knots. The pilot was departing on runway 18.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.