NTSB Factual Report

On September 30, 2007, about 1825 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182F, N3580Y, porpoised during a rejected takeoff from the Meadows Field, Bakersfield, California. The pilot owned and operated the airplane. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the private pilot nor the three passengers were injured. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he did not have the Cessna issued gust lock that fits into the hole in the control yoke. Therefore, he placed a machine bolt into the hole to keep the flight controls steady while he washed his airplane.

The pilot boarded his family and friends, and then proceeded to taxi for takeoff. The pilot stated that he abbreviated his pretakeoff check, and he did not verify that the flight controls moved freely and in an unrestricted manner. Upon accelerating to about takeoff speed the pilot observed that the machine bolt was in the yoke hole, and about this time the airplane became airborne. The pilot stated that he attempted to remove the bolt, and being unsuccessful, he retarded the throttle to idle.

According to the pilot the airplane climbed to a maximum altitude between 2 and 5 feet above the runway's surface, at which time it descended until contacting the runway in a nose low attitude. After several bounces the nose gear strut collapsed. By the time the airplane came to a stop the firewall and floor board had buckled.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and pretakeoff checks during which he failed to remove the gust lock.