Incident Overview
A pilot reported that while taxiing to the runway for takeoff, the yoke was positioned left and pushed in. A wind gust from the right lifted the right wing. The pilot was unable to maintain control, and the wind continued to push the aircraft to the left, off the runway. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over.
Damage Assessment
The accident resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage.
Mechanical Condition
The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Wind Conditions
According to the automated surface observing system at the airport, around the time of the accident, the wind was from 030° at 20 knots, gusting to 29 knots. The pilot was turning the airplane right onto runway 34.
Crosswind Component
The airplane manufacturer reported that the maximum demonstrated crosswind component was 15 knots. The calculated crosswind component while the aircraft was taxiing into takeoff position was approximately 19 knots.
FAA Guidance
FAA Handbook FAA-H-8083-3B, in a section on taxiing, states: when taxiing with a quartering headwind, the wing on the upwind side tends to be lifted unless the aileron control is held in that direction (upwind aileron up). Moving the aileron up reduces the lifting effect of the wind, while the downwind aileron goes down, creating lift and drag on the downwind wing to further counter the lifting tendency.