N360EZ Sjostrand WHEELER EXPRESS accident

NTSB LAX95LA336 · 1995-09-14 · MARIPOSA, CA · near 068

Summary

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED AIRCRAFT. AFTER LIFTOFF, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED AN UNEXPECTED DEPARTURE STALL AND SETTLED TO THE RUNWAY FROM ABOUT 12 FEET. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND COLLAPSED THE NOSE AND LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR.

Full narrative

On September 14, 1995, about 1600 Pacific daylight time, a Sjostrand Wheeler Express homebuilt experimental airplane, N360EZ, collided with the runway following a loss of control during the takeoff initial climb at Mariposa, California. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot, and was beginning a local area personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported that this was the first flight of the newly constructed aircraft. After liftoff, the aircraft experienced an unexpected departure stall and settled to the runway from about 12 feet. The aircraft touched down hard and collapsed the nose and left main landing gear.

Probable cause

the pilot's premature rotation and liftoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent hard touchdown. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident.

Circumstances

Event type: Accident
Highest injury: None
Weather conditions: Visual Meteorological Cond
Light condition: Day
Sky condition: NONE
Ceiling (ft): 0
Visibility (sm): 30
Wind direction: 0
Temperature (F): 90
Nearest airport: MARIPOSA YOSIMITE
Distance from field: 0.0
Airport elevation: 2250

Aircraft

Registration	Make	Model	Damage	FAR part
N360EZ	SJOSTRAND	WHEELER EXPRESS	SUBS	091

Sequence of events

#	Occurrence	Phase
1	250	Cruise
2	200	Cruise
3	190	Cruise

Findings

Finding
24548	cause
24511	cause
24553
19200
10401
10405