Henrie Raymond ZENITH CH 701 STOL N234RH

Summary

On 29 September 2012 at about 18:10 local time, a Henrie Raymond ZENITH CH 701 STOL registered N234RH, operated by Henrie Raymond, was involved in an accident near Ashland, Mississippi, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 September 2012 at 18:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Ashland, Mississippi, United States

Nearest airport

John Farese Airpark (MS14)

Coordinates

34.8083, -89.1931

Aircraft

Henrie Raymond ZENITH CH 701 STOL

Registration

N234RH

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Henrie Raymond

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ashland → Beech Bluff

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12CA588

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot’s inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions during initial climb, which resulted in an impact with trees and terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot’s statement, just before takeoff, he noted that the windsock was “still” and initiated his takeoff roll. About 15 to 20 feet above ground level (agl), the flight encountered a left crosswind causing the airplane to go to the right. The pilot corrected by immediately applying left aileron and left rudder control inputs, then removed the aileron and rudder control inputs. The flight continued and about 30 feet agl, the flight encountered another wind gust that pushed the airplane to the right “faster” than the pilot could apply corrections. The right wingtip impacted a treetop causing the airplane to reverse its direction, descend rapidly, and impact the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Weather data recorded around the time of the accident at the nearest observation facility indicated wind from 30 degrees at 9 knots. A representative of the airplane designer reported that a 5- to 10-knot crosswind is well within the airplane’s maximum demonstrated crosswind limitation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.