NTSB Factual Report

On August 9, 2017, at 0926 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Pietenpol Air Camper, N709HR, was substantially damaged following a loss of airplane control during takeoff at Bendigo Airport (74N), Tower City, Pennsylvania. The private pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 91 as a test flight. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the flight to Deck Airport (9D4), Myerstown, Pennsylvania.

According to airport surveillance video, the pilot initiated the takeoff roll on runway 5 and the nose of the airplane veered to the left. The takeoff continued, and the airplane pitched up into a steep, nose high attitude, rolled to the left, then descended toward the ground. The airplane contacted the ground left wing first in a steep, nose-low attitude. The propeller was turning throughout the accident sequence.

An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the airplane came to rest in the grass, adjacent to the runway. The fuselage and wings were structurally damaged. There was no fire. The wooden propeller blades were broken off and splintered at the blade roots. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit controls to the control surfaces.

The pilot reported that he was flying the airplane on its first flight away from 74N, still within the phase I test period. He flew the airplane locally the day before and all aircraft systems were normal. Preflight, ground operations, and the engine runup were uneventful. He began the flight with a full fuel tank of fuel (12 gallons) on board. He taxied to the end of the runway for a takeoff on runway 5. He specifically recalled seeing his hand push the throttle forward to initiate the takeoff roll. He saw the gauges "come to life" and the takeoff commenced. He felt the tailwheel rise, and then "the lights went out." He did not recall any subsequent events pertaining to the accident. He reported that there were "absolutely no mechanical issues" with the airplane prior to the accident.

The total time on the airframe at the time of the accident was 9.8 hours and within the Phase I test period in accordance with 14 CFR part 91.319(b). The pilot was the registered airplane builder and held a FAA experimental aircraft builder certificate.

The pilot reported in an interview that he had allowed his medical, last issued in 2010, to lapse because he had been treated for thyroid cancer. The pilot's postaccident medical treatment records were obtained and reviewed. At the time of the accident, the pilot was 60 years old. His injuries included a fracture of the occipital condyle with dissociation of the altanto-occipital joint associated with epidural hematoma of the spinal cord, a traumatic brain injury, pulmonary contusions bilaterally, damage to the left retina, a mediastinal hematoma, a large laceration of the chin including arterial damage and bleeding that required embolization, multiple broken teeth, fracture of the thyroid cartilage, a laceration of the right hand, a clavicle fracture, and fractures of the left scaphoid and radial styloid.

The pilot was intubated before being flown to the trauma center for emergent care. Once extubated, he reported having a history of hypertension, hypothyroidism resulting from a thyroidectomy to remove a thyroid cancer in 2009, and migraine headaches. In addition, he immediately reported that he believed he had fainted during takeoff which resulted in his crash (sudden unexplained fainting is known as syncope). An extensive evaluation for the source of the pilot's syncope was performed and he was eventually diagnosed with severe aortic regurgitation. The condition was so severe he underwent an aortic valve replacement several months after the accident. Although no arrhythmias were identified during the pilot's hospitalization and aortic regurgitation does not commonly cause syncope, two cardiologists documented in hospital notes or letters to the NTSB that the severity of the aortic regurgitation was enough to put him at risk of syncope from poor cardiac output or as result of an arrhythmia.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's incapacitation due to fainting as a result of complications from a previously undiagnosed heart condition.