What happened
The pilot was operating a private flight when the engine experienced a sudden loss of power. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot executed a forced landing on a nearby road. During this initial touchdown, the leading edge of the left wing and the left aileron sustained damage after striking a road sign.
Despite the structural damage, the pilot managed to restart the engine while still on the ground. Deciding against abandoning the aircraft, he attempted to take off from the road surface to return to his private airstrip. Once the airplane became airborne, it began to roll sharply to the left. The pilot applied right aileron control input in an attempt to counteract the roll, but the aircraft continued its descent until it contacted the terrain.
The investigation
Examination of the aircraft revealed significant damage to the left wing structure. Specifically, the leading edge of the left wing and the left aileron were compromised due to contact with a road sign during the initial forced landing. This impact likely altered the aerodynamic profile of the left wing, contributing to the asymmetric lift experienced during the subsequent takeoff attempt.
Findings
The sequence of events indicates that the initial engine failure was not the sole cause of the accident. The damage sustained from hitting the road sign during the forced landing critically affected the aircraft's controllability. When the pilot attempted to fly away from the road, the damaged left wing could not generate sufficient lift or respond correctly to control inputs, leading to an unrecoverable roll.
- Engine failure occurred prior to the forced landing.
- Left wing damage resulted from contact with a road sign.
- Loss of control happened during the takeoff phase after the engine was restarted.
- The pilot's decision to fly the damaged aircraft likely contributed to the final impact.