As It Climbed In A Left Turn It Encountered An Aerodynamic Stall, Spun To The Left, And Impacted The Ground

Location: Cleveland, Georgia Accident Number: ERA24FA221
Date & Time: May 20, 2024, 08:42 Local Registration: N960B
Aircraft: Radley Vincent Quicksilver Sport 2S Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Flight test

Analysis: The owner of the experimental amateur-built airplane transported it via ground to the sport pilot/light sport aircraft repairman’s facility at a grass airstrip, so that an annual condition inspection could be completed. Although the sport pilot/repairman had performed maintenance work on the airplane make and model, he had never flown one. After the sport pilot completed the inspection, he attempted a post-maintenance flight. Airport security video revealed that immediately after liftoff, the airplane turned left about 90°. The engine noise decreased, and the airplane appeared to momentarily come under control; however, it was flying toward the front of a hangar. The engine nose increased again, and the airplane cleared the hangar, but as it climbed in a left turn it encountered an aerodynamic stall, spun to the left, and impacted the ground. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions of the airframe or engine.

The airplane owner described that due to the short tail, the airplane lacked rudder effectiveness at slow airspeeds and was subject to left turning tendencies (p-factor). After viewing the video, the airplane owner further stated that it appeared the sport pilot rotated too early and over-rotated, resulting in the loss of control to the left.

Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during the takeoff and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of experience in the accident airplane make and model.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov