N2521B

On February 26, 2005, at 1540 eastern standard time, an Oliver, Zodiac Ch-601 HDS homebuilt experimental airplane, N2521B, registered to a private individual and operated by the private pilot, collided with trees shortly after takeoff from a private grass strip in Mount Olive, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot received serious injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated in Mount Olive, North Carolina on February 26, 2005, at 1530.

According to the pilot and the owner, shortly after takeoff the radiator burst filling the cockpit with what he thought was smoke, The pilot stated that visibility quickly went to zero and he attempted to release the cockpit canopy to clear the smoke but impacted trees before he could get it open. The collision with the trees substantially damaged the wings and under carriage. Examination of the airplane found that the radiator tank failed at the forward belly of the airplane. There was no evidence of a fire, and no maintenance history for the radiator was availible.