Inexperienced Trike Pilot Apparently Gets Airborne and Loses
Control
One of the less-positive aspects of the Ultralight revolution
was the mistaken impression that WAY TOO MANY pilots got that they
could teach themselves to fly. That was false. No matter the flying
background of a new Ultralight or lightplane pilot, one needs solid
expert instruction to understand the rudiments of a unique new
aircraft type... and despite this pilot's experience in
conventional aircraft, his inexperience in trikes apparently cost
him his life when his attempts to do some high-speed taxiing turned
into actual flight... as many such attempts did. What a shame.
NTSB Identification: ERA11LA263
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, April 24, 2011 in Starke, FL
Aircraft: SOLO WINGS WINDLASS AQUILLA, registration: N94370
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may
contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
On April 24, 2011, about 1000 eastern daylight time, a Solo
Wings Windlass Aquilla experimental-light sport aircraft (E-LSA),
N94370, operated by a private pilot, was substantially damaged
during an off-airport landing, in Starke, Florida. The certificated
private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions
prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that
was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal
Regulations Part 91.
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, on
February 17, 2011, the pilot purchased the foreign manufactured
weight-shift-control aircraft, which was equipped with a Rotax 503,
50-horsepower engine.
According to an FAA inspector, the pilot's wife stated that the
pilot had not previously flown the aircraft and he intended to
practice high speed taxiing at their private 1,900-foot-long, grass
airstrip, oriented on a west-northwest/east-southeast heading. She
later discovered that the aircraft had crashed in a field adjacent
to the runway.
Solo Wings Aquilla
The aircraft came to rest on its left side, near a tree line,
about 500 feet north of the east one-third of the runway. The left
wing, left landing gear, and cockpit were substantially
damaged.
Initial examination of the airframe and engine by an FAA
inspector did not reveal any mechanical abnormalities. Fuel found
in the gascolator was absent of contamination. The inspector noted
that the damage to the propeller was consistent with a low-power
setting and the throttle control was in the full aft position.