The pilot reported that during takeoff he “lost rudder control” and the SuperStol exited the runway to the left at the airport in Santa Rosa, N.M.
During the runway excursion, the airplane ground looped, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing hit terrain.The left wing sustained substantial damage.
The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and a ground loop.
NTSB Identification: GAA15CA260
This September 2015 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
“Lost rudder control”? Really? Under full power the rudder is quite effective but so is the prop. Torque and P factor of a relatively large engine in a relatively light airplane, or a really powerful engine in a heavy airplane like a Bearcat, can overpower the rudder. This was mostly likely caused by applying take off power too rapidly before there was any airspeed to assist the rudder in maintaining directional control and, since this is a tailwheel aircraft, raising the tail too quickly as well. So the cause is not really loss of rudder control but improper takeoff technique resulting in a loss of control.