Preflight Inspections are seriously important..!

[River]

These reports come from various news and forum sites... What concerns me is the comments in the last couple of paragraphs...

 

Sebring's LSA Expo show

 

Remos LSA Crashes At Expo

 

January 25, 2009

 

A Remos GX light sport aircraft which may have been associated to the company's display at the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Fla. crashed on takeoff at Sebring Airport early Sunday, killing the passenger and sending the pilot to hospital with undisclosed injuries. According to the Tampa Tribune, the aircraft attempted to take off about 7:45 a.m. and crashed on the airport's south ramp. Airport spokesman Mike Willingham told the Tribune that another aircraft was to take off in formation with the crash airplane. The identities of the people involved were not released but authorities did say they weren't local.

 

Plane Was Part Of Flight Of Two

 

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 01.25.09 0850 EST: Officials have confirmed one fatality in a Sunday morning takeoff accident at Sebring Regional Airport (SEF) in Sebring, FL.

 

Witnesses tell ANN a Remos GX light sport aircraft crashed within seconds after takeoff around 7:30 am EST. The plane was the second aircraft to take off in a flight of two formation, and started its takeoff roll about 20 seconds after the first.

 

The aircraft impacted the ground off the right side of Runway 18 at SEF, about halfway down the 5,200-foot runway.

 

The main wreckage came to rest on the grass median separating the runway and taxiway. Debris was seen on the concrete ramp adjacent to the terminal, in front of a well-known aviation business on the airport grounds.

 

Rescue crews were reportedly on scene within minutes. The second victim was airlifted to an area hospital. The condition of that individual is unknown at this time, and identities of the two people onboard the accident plane have not been released.

 

Officials with the US Sport Aviation Expo, now underway at SEF, tell Aero-News the accident did not occur within the confines of the event. Airport officials have not released an official statement as of yet.

 

ANN will update this story throughout the day. All details above are preliminary at this time, and subject to change as more information becomes available.

 

Fatal Accident Mars Final Day

 

Tragedy struck the final day of the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring when a Remos GX aircraft crashed on takeoff Sunday morning, taking the life of the passenger, identified as Steven Fletcher, a photographer for UK publication Today’s Pilot. The accident occurred about 7:35 a.m. on January 25, before the gates opened for the Expo’s final day.

 

The pilot, Mike Kostelac, was airlifted from the scene to a Tampa hospital and is listed in stable condition. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the cause. The Tampa Tribune reported Tuesday that Todd Gunther, air safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said there was no "pre-impact structural failure" of the plane and the engine was running.

 

Flight Design CTsw Forum...

 

Witnesses said the Remos got about 250 feet AGL, then suddenly rolled inverted and came down very steep. Rumor is the ailerons were not connected to the bellcranks in the cockpit. Apparently these are diconnected when folding the wings back for transport.

 

My thoughts and prayers are with the families involved.

 

The word from a reliable source who know the Remos plane and the parties involved said the accident was the result of an incomplete preflight. Prior to the flight someone had been demonstrating how the wings are able to be folded for ground storage or transportation. As a result , the locking mechanism the wing employs was not secured completely. I know I am guilty of moving through the preflight too quickly sometimes. We can all learn from this tragedy. My prayers go out to the Remos community. Take Care and Fly Safely.