Takeoff & Initial Climb · NTSB CEN21FA426
RANS S20 — Wadsworth, OH
| Date | September 18, 2021 |
| Location | Wadsworth, OH |
| Aircraft | RANS S20 (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Takeoff Loss of control in flight |
| Pilot age | 64 |
| Pilot total time | 517 hrs · Building experience |
| Time in type | 16 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Lateral/bank control-Attain/maintain not possible
- Personnel issues-Physical-Impairment/incapacitation-Alcohol-Pilot
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Turbulence-Wake turbulence-Awareness of condition
What happened
The pilot of the airplane was holding short of the runway for takeoff when he asked the pilot of an inbound helicopter to side-step to the taxiway so that the airplane could depart. The helicopter pilot reported that a side-step would have resulted in the helicopter flying directly over the airplane and that he side-stepped the helicopter toward the taxiway after clearing the airplane. An airport surveillance camera captured the airplane start the takeoff roll after the helicopter passed. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane entered a steep roll and impacted the runway. A postimpact fire ensued.
Toxicology testing of the pilot was positive for ethanol in blood, vitreous fluid, urine, gastric contents, and liver tissue. The ethanol in blood concentration (0.108 gm/dL) was associated with impairment, and alcohol consumption was fairly recent to the accident based on the concentration levels in the pilot’s body.
The pilot completed building the airplane about 5 months before the accident. The engine had a history of high oil and cylinder head temperatures, which may have been a factor in the pilot’s decision to depart so soon after the helicopter to reduce idling time on the ground.
Based on the available information, it is likely that the airplane encountered wake turbulence from the landing helicopter during takeoff, which resulted in the pilot’s loss of control. It is likely that the pilot’s impairment from ethanol contributed to the accident.