Accident Overview
On August 5, 2008, at approximately 1500 central daylight time, an Evektor-Aerotechnik AS Sportstar, registration N411EV, was substantially damaged following a hard landing at St. Charles Airport (K3SQ) in St. Charles, Missouri. The flight was operated by St. Charles Flying Service, Inc. under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The student pilot, the sole occupant, reported no injuries.
Flight Sequence
According to the student pilot's statement, he conducted a normal takeoff and completed the pre-takeoff checklist. While climbing through 75 to 100 feet above the runway, the airplane experienced a sudden nose-over tendency. The student pilot pulled back on the control stick and regained control. A similar nose-over event occurred during the crosswind turn, which he again corrected. Sensing significant difficulty, the pilot decided to return to the runway as quickly as possible. Throughout the traffic pattern for runway 09, the nose-over tendency persisted. During the turn to final, the pilot realized the power setting was too high but could not simultaneously maintain aircraft control and adjust it, resulting in a higher-than-normal airspeed. The airplane touched down at high speed and struck the runway hard. After touchdown, directional control was lost, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway, traveled through grass, and nosed over.
Investigation Findings
Inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examined the airframe and engine and found no pre-existing anomalies. However, the pitch trim was discovered in the full nose-down position. The pitch trim system and flight controls were tested and operated normally. During an interview, FAA inspectors asked the student pilot to describe his pre-takeoff cockpit checks. He did not mention the elevator trim setting at any point. When asked if he might have left the elevator trim at the wrong setting, he replied, "I supposed it is… I didn’t even think about the trim tab."
Pilot Experience
The student pilot reported a total of 40 flight hours, with approximately 25 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. His most recent flight had occurred on June 23, 2008, about six weeks before the accident.