Investigation number
199600513
Occurrence date
State
Tasmania
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Aviation occurrence type
Collision with terrain
Occurrence category
Accident

The pilot took off to conduct a low level aerobatic display. Shortly after lift off, at a very low height, he rolled the aircraft inverted. He applied forward elevator to hold the nose up to avoid a descent. At that point a blanking nut came off the top of the canopy and the pilot instinctively reached for it. As he did so, he inadvertanly allowed the aircraft to descend inverted onto the runway surface. While still inverted the aircraft slid to a stop on the runway. Significant Factors The following factors were considered relevant to the development of the accident: 1 The presence of the loose blanking nut. 2 Low height of the aircraft. 3 The pilot allowed himself to be distracted from his primary task of flying the aircraft, at a crucial stage of the flight.

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Pitts Aviation Enterprises
Model
S-1S
Registration
VH-CEX
Sector
Piston
Departure point
Valley Field Tas
Destination
Valley Field Tas
Damage
Substantial