Accident Overview
A student pilot and owner of an experimental light sport airplane was seriously injured in an accident that occurred during a go-around attempt following a bounced landing. The pilot had been conducting a local flight of about one hour, during which he explored the stall characteristics of the aircraft. He then returned to his home airport to practice touch-and-go landings.
Sequence of Events
On the final landing attempt, the airplane bounced upon touchdown. The pilot responded by applying full power to initiate a go-around. According to the pilot's report, the airplane then banked to the right, which he attributed to the counterclockwise rotating engine's "p-factor effect." The aircraft began heading toward a hangar located off the right side of the runway. Due to the airplane's low altitude and airspeed, the pilot chose to continue the right turn to avoid colliding with the hangar. After clearing the hangar, he attempted to climb the airplane to clear an approaching tree line. The pilot was unsuccessful, and the airplane's right wing struck one of the trees. The aircraft then impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane experienced substantial damage to the airframe.
Pilot's Account
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane or its engine that would have precluded normal operation. He attributed the loss of control during the go-around to his unfamiliarity with the flight characteristics of the counterclockwise rotation of the airplane's two-stroke engine and his lack of flight experience in experimental light sport airplanes.