Incident Overview
A non-certificated pilot was conducting a high speed taxi test at a privately-owned, dirt and gravel-covered airport. The airplane was a tricycle-gear equipped weight-shift-control type. According to the pilot, he assembled the airplane after arriving at the airport and performed a thorough preflight inspection, which included releasing helium balloons to check wind conditions aloft. The airplane had recently undergone an extensive rebuild, and the pilot intended to conduct a series of post-maintenance taxi tests before flying it.
Sequence of Events
During the first high speed taxi test, as the airplane reached takeoff speed, the pilot pushed the control bar forward. The airplane then became airborne. In an attempt to land and gain additional airspeed, the pilot pulled back on the control bar. However, the airplane began to roll to the left. Despite applying full right control bar input, the airplane continued rolling left and subsequently collided with a stand of trees. The wings sustained substantial damage in the impact.
Post-Accident Observations
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been prevented if he had been more familiar with the airplane.