The pilot was performing a maintenance test flight following a recent condition inspection on the Zenair CH-601 HD.
Due to a persistent fuel leak in the right wing fuel tank, he had about 11 gallons of fuel in the left wing fuel tank and the right fuel tank was empty.
Before takeoff from the airport in Lebanon, Indiana, he checked all flight controls with no anomalies noted.
The pilot told investigators that shortly after being out of ground effect during the takeoff, the plane began to roll to the left. He attempted to correct with right aileron control, but was unsuccessful.
He pulled the throttle to idle, and the left roll continued until the left wingtip struck terrain. The airplane cartwheeled into a cornfield adjacent to the runway, came to rest upright, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.
It is likely the known fuel imbalance resulted in a left roll tendency that could not be corrected with the flight controls during the takeoff.
Probable Cause: The loss of lateral/bank control during takeoff due to the pilot’s decision to operate the airplane with a known fuel imbalance.
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This September 2022 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.
I’m lucky I have flown so many times over terrain and open water and I’m still here to tell the tale. Luck, just dumb luck.
Using right aileron while slow has the reverse effect of what was intended, it’s like deploying a flap at the end of the low/slow wing. It increases the angle of attack on the wing you’re trying to lift. He could (should)? have been sitting in the right seat.
Why would an aircraft with known sqwauks leave a maintenance facility ??? 🤔🥺
Should have checked fuel levels before taking off
When the ailerons don’t work the way you want use RUDDERS! You can fly any plane with just RUDDERS, thrust, and trim. Fly with me, you get no stick or yoke. Wake up your feet. The rudder will pick up the wing faster than ailerons! Flight training is so poor these days!!!!
Taking off with one tank empty isn’t really any different than running a tank dry in flight.
If it had a known fuel leak why did it pass inspection?
Flying with a known issue is an issue.
Everyone is forgetting the lack of the Pilot’s concern for Saftey in not aborting the flight when it was clear from the report that there was a “fuel leak” in the right fuel tank, regardless of what other factors may have contributed to the crash other than the lack of awareness in knowing when to “not fly”!!
It seems from most “NTSB” crash reports that it’s the pilot’s lack of “judgment” in knowing when to “go or not go” or proper flying procedures” that has caused damaged or death.
When will “pilots” learn, there is “no” reward in not being safe? I hope it is sooner than later, but I doubt it. Last time I checked we have only one life to live, so let’s live it as long as we can by being “safe” as possible. I would hate to face “St.Peter” and him asking “why are you up here so soon”? What could I say?
Its the same old story
Very poor judgement, ive flown this model a/c and although they appear doscile, things can go south quickly stall speeds, fuel imbalance is 1 of the worst, the 1 i flew consumed fuel from The l/h tank at a higher rate and switching tanks via fuel selector was.part of my flight monitoring
I believe the right wing tank had no fuel in it was because the tank was a known leaker and he didn’t want more to keep leaking out.
Why he decided to fly anyway is the mystery.
Don’t forget torque also induced into the wing.
Way more to this than balanced fuel load
The POH for this airplane lists no limitations for fuel balance and load. I think something more is in play.
I have not seen any mention of fuel imbalance in any POH that I’ve read, including my Cessna 175 POH.
I don’t see how a 66 lb ‘heavy wing’ could not be controlled with aileron. But , at low airspeed this aircraft may not have effective ailerons ?