Accident Details
On June 26, 2017, at 1400 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Vans RV-10, registration N865HB, was substantially damaged during a runway excursion after landing at Blairsville Airport (DZL), Blairsville, Georgia. The airline transport pilot and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which departed Lumpkin County-Wimpys Airport (9A0), Dahlonega, Georgia, about 1345, and was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to the pilot, he completed a landing to runway 26, retracted the flaps, and applied takeoff power to complete a touch-and-go landing. The nose turned to the right, the pilot corrected with left rudder application, but the airplane continued to the right. The pilot reduced engine power, aborted the takeoff, and applied left braking but the airplane continued to the right, departed the runway, and traveled through a "depression" before coming to rest. As the main landing gear dropped into the depression, the tail section struck the ground, which substantially damaged the tail structure.
Pilot Information
The pilot held airline transport, flight engineer, flight instructor, and private pilot certificates with ratings for airplane single engine, multiengine, and rotorcraft helicopter. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) first-class medical certificate was issued on May 9, 2017. He reported 21,000 total hours of flight experience, of which 100 hours were in the accident airplane make and model.
Aircraft Information
The four-place, low-wing airplane was manufactured in 2010 and powered by a Lycoming XIO-540D4A5, 260-hp engine. The most recent condition inspection was completed on April 7, 2017, and the airplane had accrued 365 total aircraft hours. The airplane was configured with a castering nose landing gear, and steering was accomplished by asymmetrical braking. The main landing gear was equipped with wheel pants, and according to the pilot, the tires could not be serviced with the wheel pants installed.
Weather Observations
At 1400, the weather recorded at Western Carolina Regional Airport (RHP), at 1,696 feet elevation and 21 miles north of DZL, included clear skies, wind from 030° at 3 knots, and visibility 10 statute miles. The temperature was 25°C, and the dew point was 13°C. The altimeter setting was 30.18 inches of mercury.
Examination Findings
The airplane was examined at the scene by an FAA aviation safety inspector. Examination revealed that the rudder and the tail structure just forward of the rudder were substantially damaged. The right main landing gear wheel pant was removed, and examination revealed that the tire and the innertube had each rotated independently of each other on the rim, and that the innertube valve stem was severed. The pilot reported no deficiencies with the handling and performance of the airplane. The only mechanical malfunction/failure cited by the pilot was, "Right main tire lost all pressure."