Pilot "...Was Unable To Keep The Wings Level"

Location: Bowling Green, KY Accident Number: ERA20CA168
Date & Time: 05/02/2020, 0700 CDT Registration: N32517
Aircraft: DAYTON-WRIGHT DH-4 Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Flight control sys malf/fail Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Flight Test

The pilot reported that, during the first flight test of the antique airplane, which was in the process of being restored, he had difficulty controlling the airplane in the roll axis. After takeoff, he noticed that the airplane required some right aileron to keep the wings level. After turning crosswind, the problem worsened, requiring that he apply more pressure to the control stick (in the right aileron direction). As he turned downwind, he used nearly full right aileron to maintain control, and the force on the control stick was so high that he was unable to hold it
with one hand. When he removed his left hand from the control stick to adjust the throttle, the airplane would roll toward the left. As he neared the base leg, he was unable to keep the wings level and the airplane developed into a slip, and he was unable to prevent the airplane from turning left. The airplane descended, touched down in the grass to the right of the runway, and came to rest nose down, with the fuselage rolled about 45° to the right, with the wings partially separated from the airframe.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed that the aileron control system was continuous. However, due to the airplane damage, the rigging of the aileron system could not be evaluated.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage, lower wing, and horizontal stabilizer.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov