Rhinebeck, NY, USA
N7157Q
Palen Sopwith Camel
The pilot went to the airport for the purpose of conducting an initial checkout in the single-seat replica of a Sopwith Camel. Assisted by a flight instructor who was "highly experienced" in the same make and model, the pilot completed the preflight, rehearsed various cockpit operations, and then boarded to practice taxiing. Afterwards, the pilot conducted a debriefing with the instructor, and then executed his first flight, which lasted approximately 25 minutes. After completing the flight, the pilot conducted another debriefing, and then attempted a second flight. During the takeoff roll, the airplane accelerated "normally" down the turf runway with the tailwheel in the up position for 4 to 6 seconds, and then nosed over, causing substantial damage to the top wing, and vertical stabilizer. Examination of the runway revealed the initial propeller ground scars were collocated with a set of ruts running perpendicular to the takeoff roll. At the time of the accident the pilot had approximately 1 hour in make and model.
On May 9, 2005, about 1845 eastern daylight time, an amateur built Sopwith Camel, N7157Q, was substantially damaged during takeoff from the Old Rhinebeck Airport (NY94), Rhinebeck, New York. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight. No flight plan had been filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he went to the airport for the purpose of conducting an initial checkout in the single seat replica of a Sopwith Camel. Assisted by a "highly experienced" flight instructor in the same make and model, the pilot completed the preflight, rehearsed various cockpit operations, and then boarded to practiced taxiing. Afterwards, the pilot conducted a debriefing with the instructor, and then executed his first flight, which lasted approximately 25 minutes. After completing the flight, the pilot conducted another debriefing, and then attempted a second flight. During the takeoff roll, the airplane accelerated "normally" down the turf runway with the tailwheel in the up position for 4 to 6 seconds, and then nosed over, causing substantial damage to the top wing, and vertical stabilizer. At the time of the accident the pilot had approximately 1 hour in make and model. Examination of the runway revealed the initial propeller ground scars were collocated with a set of ruts running perpendicular to the takeoff roll. The pilot added that a new hangar had been erected on the airport, and that "heavy" construction vehicles had been crossing the runway.
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff roll. A factor in the accident was the uneven runway, and the pilot's lack of total experience in make and model.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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