On August 27, 2017, about 1330 eastern daylight time, an unregistered amateur-built experimental light-sport Tukan Trike aircraft was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during takeoff in Nicholasville, Kentucky. The noncertificated pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight.According to a witness, the pilot purchased the weight-shift-control aircraft several months earlier, and the accident flight was the pilot's first flight in the aircraft. After the pilot completed a few taxi tests down the grass field, the aircraft took off but failed to gain airspeed or altitude. According to the witness, the aircraft climbed to about 20 ft above the ground, veered left, and impacted a dumpster. He reported that the engine ran "fine" during the takeoff.
A search of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records revealed that the pilot did not hold a pilot certificate, nor did he possess a sport pilot certificate with a weight-shift-control trike rating. (Pilots of the accident aircraft make and model must possess a sport pilot certificate with a weight-shift control trike rating.) His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued in conjunction with a student pilot certificate on February 23, 1989. He reported 40 total hours of flight experience at that time. No pilot logbooks were recovered. It could not be determined whether the pilot obtained any instruction in the operation of the aircraft before the accident flight.
The aircraft was configured with a second seat and a NorthWing M-Pulse 2 wing. A 12-gallon fuel tank on a plywood board was underneath the passenger seat, and the aircraft was powered by a two-stroke, 40-horsepower Rotax 447 engine. A Rotax placard on the engine stated, "This engine is for use in experimental and ultralight uncertified aircraft only." No maintenance records were found. According to an FAA inspector, the accident aircraft exceeded the limitations contained in 14 CFR Part 103 for an ultralight vehicle and was required to be registered as a light-sport aircraft.
Examination of the aircraft by the FAA inspector revealed that it came to rest nose-low on its left side. Except for structural tube bending, it remained largely intact. The wing remained attached to the main structure and was heavily damaged.
Weather reported at Blue Grass Airport (LEX), Lexington, Kentucky, about 9 nautical miles north of the accident site, included variable winds at 3 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 26°C, dew point 15°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.13 inches of mercury.
The Jessamine County Office of the Coroner, Nicholasville, Kentucky, performed an examination on the pilot; an autopsy was not performed. Toxicology testing was performed by Axis Forensic Toxicology. Tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid (THC-COOH) was detected at 5 ng/ml. THC-COOH is one of the nonpsychoactive, nonimpairing compounds produced by the body following use of marijuana. Tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary impairing psychoactive compound in marijuana, was not detected above the reporting level of 1 ng/ml.