What happened
On June 29, 2025, at 10:49 EDT, an experimental, amateur-built Lancair 360, registration N360RF, was destroyed following an accident near Zeeland, Michigan. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use. Prior to the accident, the pilot had taxied to a fuel service station to refuel the aircraft.
During takeoff from runway 20, the aircraft began to roll to the left shortly after rotation. This roll continued until the aircraft reached a steep bank angle, at which point the nose pitched down. The aircraft impacted the terrain approximately 100 feet east of the runway centerline, resulting in a post-impact fire. The pilot sustained 1 fatal injury.
The investigation
The wreckage of the aircraft was located at the accident site, with the initial impact point and a crater containing the propeller and starter ring gear located near the runway. A post-impact fire heavily damaged the airframe and engine.
Mechanical examinations of the flight controls revealed the following:
- The rudder control continuity was established, but one of the left rudder cables featured an unsecured Nicopress compression sleeve. This sleeve was approximately 5 inches from the rudder pedal attach bracket and showed no evidence of being properly compressed.
- The right aileron control components, including the bellcrank and control tubes, were thermally damaged or destroyed, though several rod ends remained attached to their installation points.
- The left aileron control tubes and bellcranks were thermally destroyed, though the rod ends remained.
- The elevator control rods and idler bellcrank were also subject to thermal damage or destruction by the fire.
- Both flaps were separated from the airframe due to melted attachment hinges.
The engine remained attached to the airframe. While the engine showed heavy thermal damage, the crankcase was intact, and there were no visible signs of catastrophic internal failure. The propeller blades showed gouging, scratches, and deformation from the impact.