Had the lock been stowed during impact, it would have been pinned under the flight control stick, crushed longitudinally, and its retaining clip would have been deformed however, the control lock and its retaining clip were essentially undamaged, and the lock was found raised off the floor. “The cabin floor, where the control lock tube should have been mounted for flight, was severely deformed and compressed.
In its findings, the NTSB indicated that the control lock did not sustain the kind of damage that would indicate it had been removed and stowed for flight. He stated that, once he realized his mistake, removal of the lock was a struggle due to the forces imposed on the control stick during takeoff.” A pilot who owned a similar airplane stated that he had once become distracted during preflight checks and was able to taxi, initiate takeoff, and become airborne with the control lock engaged. “Although the control lock is painted red, its orientation when engaged results in the pilot viewing it directly down its length, at its narrowest profile. The control lock on this aircraft “immobilized the aileron and elevator but still allowed for near-full movement of the rudder and tailwheel.” It also may have been difficult for the pilot to see, the report explained. Contributing to the accident was his failure to perform an adequate preflight inspection and flight control check before takeoff.” In the report, the NTSB determined the probable cause of the accident to be “the pilot’s failure to remove the flight control lock before departure, which resulted in a loss of airplane control and impact with terrain.
Both the engine and propeller exhibited damage signatures consistent with high engine power at impact.” Examination did not reveal any evidence of preaccident malfunctions or failures of the flight control system, and there was no evidence to indicate that the pilot’s seat had moved. The July 6 NTSB report explained, “The pilot was attempting an intersection takeoff about midfield when, shortly after the airplane became airborne, it pitched up aggressively, rolled left, and descended into the ground in a nose-down attitude.
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