NTSB Factual Report

On August 17, 2002, at 1230 eastern daylight time, a Boeing Stearman E75L300, N65BH, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain shortly after takeoff from Fostoria Metropolitan Airport (FZI), Fostoria, Ohio. The certificated airline transport pilot and his passenger were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to give a friend an airplane ride. After performing a short field takeoff, the airplane began to climb. As the airplane reached the end of the runway "something went wrong," and that was last part of the flight he remembered. He also stated that there were no mechanical problems with the engine.

During an interview with an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector, the pilot said that he was unable to control the airplane.

The passenger had no memory of the accident.

A witness stated that the airplane made a normal takeoff from runway 27. As the airplane reached the departure end of the runway, it started a 10- to 15-degree bank turn to the left. It simultaneously pitched up and slowed down, then began to "rotate" around the left wing with the nose pointed down toward the ground. "The pilot almost got the wings level and the nose started to come up from the dive when the aircraft struck the ground in pancake effect - bounced and turned to the southwest...."

According to a second witness, when the airplane reached the end of the runway, it did not seem to climb well as it began a left turn. The turn got tighter and the nose of the airplane pitched up "extremely high for such a tight and low turn." As the airplane continued to turn back toward the airport, its pitch increased and the witness knew it was in trouble. The airplane then stalled, and the nose immediately dropped down toward the ground. The pilot managed to level the airplane out a little bit, before it hit the ground at an estimated 45-degree angle. When the airplane hit the ground it bounced, pivoted 180 degrees, then hit the ground again in a flat attitude. When the airplane hit the second time, the wings folded.

A third witness stated that after the airplane took off, it appeared to climb at an airspeed lower than expected. When the airplane was about 100 feet above ground level, it appeared to stall, and the left wing dipped sharply to the left. The airplane then leveled out and impacted the ground in a flat attitude.

Two FAA inspectors performed an examination of the airplane after the accident. According to one of them, the sealed bearing that connected the front seat control column to the aileron/elevator push-pull tube was missing, and never located. Flight control continuity was established for all flight control surfaces, and no mechanical anomalies were noted with the engine.

The airplane had undergone an annual maintenance inspection on August 7, 2002, at a total airframe time of 1,530.4 hours. At the time of the accident, the airplane had flown 1.7 hours since the inspection.

The pilot held numerous flight certificates, ratings, type ratings, and was also a certified airframe and power plant mechanic. His most recent FAA second class medical was issued on March 25, 2002. The pilot reported a total of 4,997 flight hours, of which, 85 hours were in make and model.

Weather reported at Findlay Airport (FND), Findlay, Ohio, 16 nautical miles southwest of Fostoria Airport, included winds from 220 degrees at 11 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, overcast clouds at 3,800 feet, temperature 82 degrees F, and dewpoint 68 degrees F.

NTSB Probable Cause

A missing flight control sealed bearing, which resulted in a loss of control in flight.