No fatalities

1 Dec 2017: TODD FOLEY ZENITH 701 NO SERIES — Mount Airy, NC

Mount Airy, NC, United States

On 1 Dec 2017, a TODD FOLEY ZENITH 701 NO SERIES was involved in an aviation accident near Mount Airy, NC. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. This summary draws on records from NTSB.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During takeoff, an experimental amateur-built airplane experienced a tip stall, bounced on the runway, lost its right wheel, and impacted the ground inverted. The pilot reported holding the stick back too long.

Accident Details

The pilot of an experimental amateur-built airplane reported that during takeoff, he raised the nose after reaching about 20 miles per hour (mph). At approximately 40 mph, the airplane lifted off the runway. The pilot stated that he "held the stick back just a little [too] long and it started to tip stall to the left and [he] pushed the stick forward." He added that he applied right aileron and rudder because the airplane was drifting to the left side of the runway.

Pilot Actions

Subsequently, the airplane aerodynamically stalled, bounced on the runway, and the right wheel separated from the airplane. The pilot then, with full power, continued to fly and made right aileron and rudder inputs to get back over the runway. The airplane impacted the ground and came to rest inverted.

Aircraft Damage

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and wings.

Weather Conditions

The automated weather observation system at the accident airport reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 090° at 4 knots. The pilot was departing on runway 18.

Contributing factors

Causes

Capability exceededPilot

Other contributing factors

Heading/course — Not attained/maintained