Cox Clyde H FSHR AERO VSNS CLBTY N716HJ

Summary

On 25 September 2008 at about 16:03 local time, a Cox Clyde H FSHR AERO VSNS CLBTY registered N716HJ was involved in an accident near Tampa, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 September 2008 at 16:03

Classification

Accident

Location

Tampa, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Tampa North Aero Park (X39)

Coordinates

28.2194, -82.3714

Aircraft

Cox Clyde H FSHR AERO VSNS CLBTY

Registration

N716HJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tampa → Tampa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA08CA201

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff due to inadequate maintenance.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to a witness, a slight gust of wind came across the airfield during takeoff. He stated that the airplane was two to three feet off the ground when the left wing dipped, hit the runway, and caused the airplane to cartwheel several times. According to an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic, the pilot was anxious to take his aircraft so he started adjusting the tension on the flying wire cables himself. The cables on the left wing remained loose even after adjusting the turnbuckles. The A&P recommended to the pilot that the cables be cut and re-swaged to which the pilot declined. On the day of the accident, the pilot taxied his airplane away from A&P’s property, without having any of the discrepancies corrected. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found that the pilot preferred to do his own maintenance, and that an annual inspection was not completed on the airplane. He found that the left wing's flying wires were not attached properly to the main frame, which was evidenced by the oblong fitting coupled with the bare metal on the main frame bracket showing that the assembly pulled apart from the fuselage before or just prior to takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.