Accident Details
A pilot reported that during a night flight, he used a straight pin as a substitute control lock. The pilot had been preparing for an earlier night flight that same evening. He inspected the airplane and noted that the control lock was not installed in the control column. While searching for a control lock, he found a straight pin in a seatback pocket and installed it. He then left the airport and returned later that evening, performing a preflight inspection during which he removed the straight pin.
Pilot's Account
After the preflight, the pilot departed and flew to his destination airport, landing without incident. Following the landing, he went to a fixed base operator to file a flight plan for the return flight. He then returned to the airplane and started the engine. He taxied to the run-up area of runway 34 and completed the before-takeoff checklist but did not check that the flight controls were free and clear, fearing that his tablet might be knocked off the yoke mount. He informed the controller that he was ready for departure and received clearance for takeoff.
The pilot taxied onto the runway and applied power, noting that airspeed increased normally. After rotation, the airplane climbed to about 3 feet then settled back onto the runway and bounced. Confused, he added nose-up trim to assist the climb. The airplane then climbed to about 10 feet, after which the nose pitched downward and the nose wheel struck the runway. After coming to a stop, the pilot switched his headlamp from red to white and noticed that the pin used to secure the flight controls was still in the control lock hole. He removed the pin and retained it.
Post-Accident Inspection
A post-accident inspection of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed substantial damage to the firewall.