Accident Details
On July 19, 2016, at 1233 eastern daylight time, a Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam P2008, registration N615BS, sustained substantial damage after rejecting a takeoff and subsequently veering off the runway at Warrenton-Fauquier Airport (HWY), Warrenton, Virginia. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Daytime visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight, which was originating at the time of the accident.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, while on the ramp preparing for departure, he heard via the airplane's radio a helicopter calling "downwind, base, final, and departure." He then made a right turn onto the runway and observed a helicopter hovering over the runway ahead of his position. After initiating the takeoff roll, he decided to reject the takeoff to avoid a possible collision. The pilot had recently transitioned to the accident airplane, which was equipped with toe brakes, whereas his previous airplane had a hand brake. He stated that he pushed hard on the brakes, "very likely too much on the left side," causing the airplane to depart the left side of the runway. The airplane then nosed down in the grass. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Pilot Information
The 87-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and glider, as well as an FAA experimental aircraft builder certificate. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate application, dated October 28, 2013, indicated 1,295 total hours of flight experience. He reported having flown 7 hours in the accident airplane make and model.