Takeoff & Initial Climb · NTSB CEN12FA579
LEE PAUL SQ 2000 — Pierre, SD
| Date | August 28, 2012 |
| Location | Pierre, SD |
| Aircraft | LEE PAUL SQ 2000 (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Initial climb Miscellaneous/other |
| Pilot age | 69 |
| Pilot total time | 346 hrs · Low time |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
The airplane's entry into a pilot-induced oscillation and the pilot’s loss of airplane control during the takeoff initial climb. Contributing to the accident was the left entrance door opening in flight for undetermined reasons.
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Pitch control-Incorrect use/operation - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft structures-Doors-Passenger/crew doors-Unintentional use/operation - F
What happened
During the airplane’s initial takeoff climb, two ground witnesses observed the left “gull-wing” entrance door to be open. They reported that when the airplane was about 50 feet above the ground, it entered a series of approximately four pitch oscillations. During the last pitch-down oscillation, the airplane impacted the runway at a steep descent angle and then skidded forward about 500 feet, coming to a stop near the right side of the runway. A postimpact fire ensued. Examination of the airframe, engine, propeller and the door did not reveal any anomalies associated with a preimpact failure or malfunction.