Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Brainerd, Minnesota 56401
Wednesday, November 30, 2005 14:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane collided with the terrain following a loss of control on takeoff. The pilot, who was also the airplane builder, reported that the takeoff was normal and at an altitude of about 20 feet above the runway, the left wing dropped slightly. He stated he attempted to compensate by using opposite aileron, however, the wing continued to drop until the airplane contacted the ground. The pilot stated the accident occurred during the first flight after he converted the aileron system from push-pull cables to a tube and bell crank system. The pilot reported he inadvertently reversed the left and right aileron control systems when he installed the conversion.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot/builder inadvertently reversed the aileron control systems during installation and failed to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot/builder’s failure to perform an adequate aircraft preflight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/30/2005
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Brainerd
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 56401
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 462352N
Event Location Longitude 0940814W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID BRD
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2200
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.02
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19151
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Nov 30 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 28 2006 12:35PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Minneapolis, MN

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4334Z
NTSB Number CHI06CA039
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Larson
Aircraft Model Aero Comp-6
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number AC6114
Certified Max Gross Weight 3500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Craig C. Larson
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Fort Riley
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code BRD
Departure City Brainerd
Departure State MN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Brainerd
Destination State MN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 19 2005 5:15PM
User who most recently changed record DINC
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --