History of Flight
On September 11, 2021, at approximately 0745 eastern daylight time, a Quad City Ultralight Challenger II experimental airplane, registered as N778H, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during takeoff near Rogers City, Michigan. The pilot, who sustained minor injuries, was operating the aircraft under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
The pilot reported that about 100 feet into the takeoff roll on runway 27, the airplane began to swerve to the right. Before he could abort the takeoff, he heard a bang, and the airplane pitched up and rolled. A witness observed the airplane abruptly pitch up, roll to the right, and impact the ground in a left-wing-down attitude. The witness noted that the airplane completed approximately 270° of right roll before the left wing struck the ground.
Personnel Information
A search of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman certification records found no record of a pilot certificate ever issued to the pilot. The pilot reported having previous flying experience in 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 103 ultralights.
Aircraft Information
The pilot did not maintain maintenance records for the airplane, nor had the airplane undergone a condition inspection since the FAA issued the experimental airworthiness certificate on December 14, 2007.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the airplane’s left wing, fuselage, tailboom, and left horizontal stabilizer. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit controls to each flight control surface.
Further examination of the right wing revealed that the forward lift strut had separated from the fuselage longeron. The channel bracket remained attached to the lift strut, but the AN4-24A bolt had pulled out of the fuselage longeron. The 0.25-inch AN365-248 nylon-insert lock nut that normally secured the AN4-24A bolt was not located during the investigation.