Accident Details
On April 21, 2014, at 1422 mountain daylight time, an American AA-1 (serial number 0048), registration N481HY, veered off runway 15 during takeoff at Meadow Lake Airport (FLY) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The airplane was destroyed by a postcrash fire. The pilot, who was also the airplane owner and held an airline transport pilot certificate, was uninjured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a maintenance test flight and was operating without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that he performed preflight and pre-takeoff checks prior to a post-owner-assisted annual inspection test flight. He departed from runway 15 for the first takeoff and remained in left closed traffic for touch-and-go landings. He performed the first landing to a full stop to test the brakes, then taxied back to runway 15. He did not notice any anomalies and tried to stay off the brakes during taxi. He rechecked the magnetos and completed takeoff checks before the second takeoff on runway 15. During the second takeoff, the airplane accelerated on the main landing gear with the tail wheel off the ground. The airplane "aggressively veered left," and he applied full right rudder. The airplane struck a runway/taxiway sign before he reduced the engine throttle. The airplane bounced and impacted terrain between runway 15 and a parallel taxiway, striking additional signs. It came to a stop in a drainage ditch and immediately caught fire. The airplane exploded about one minute after he evacuated.
Maintenance Information
The pilot stated that the brake calipers were not removed during the owner-assisted annual inspection. When asked what maintenance work was performed, he said he replaced the landing gear wheel bearings, tire tubes, and tires. He later confirmed that the calipers had to be removed to perform those tasks. The brake fluid was last changed when he purchased the airplane in January 2011. The annual inspection was performed in the hangar of the mechanic with inspection authorization who certified the inspection; the mechanic was present during the work.
The airplane logbook entry for the annual inspection, dated April 2, 2014, and made by an airframe and powerplant mechanic with inspection authorization at American Aviation Inc., Peyton, Colorado, stated: "Aircraft inspected IAW FAR 43 Appendix D. Replaced vacuum regulator filter B3-5-1. Stop drilled 2 small cracks on top canopy. Checked controls for travel and condition. Checked sears, belts and rails. C/W AD 72-06-02 on rudder and elevator control cables by inspection. No broken strands noted. C/W AD 72-07-10 on elevator bungee by inspection. C/W AD 75-09-07 mixture control wire by inspection. Replaced ELT Battery, next change date March 2016. C/W FAR 207D and checked good. See owners entries for cowl, wheels, brakes, tires, etc. Returned to service. Applicable AD's thru 04-02-14."
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector from the Denver Flight Standards District Office noted that the logbook entry was not in accordance with regulatory requirements because there were no additional entries relating to "See owners entries for cowl, wheels, brakes, tires, etc." The inspector stated that all maintenance work must be entered and the authorizing mechanic must ensure such entries are made.
Post-Accident Examination
Post-accident fire damage precluded examination of the brake and landing gear systems. The pilot stated he did not know what caused the fire, but that the fuel tanks were ruptured during the collision.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was powered by a Lycoming O-320-A2B engine, serial number L-49225-27A. The flight originated at FLY about 1422 and was to remain in the airport traffic pattern.