ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 40671
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| Date: | Saturday 10 August 1996 |
| Time: | 20:15 LT |
| Type: |  LET L-13 Blaník |
| Owner/operator: | Olympic Air Inc. |
| Registration: | N90865 |
| MSN: | 025726 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3083 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming%20O-320-D2J |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Shelton, WA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | (KSHN) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
After receiving a glider certification on 7/24/96, the pilot (plt) logged about 2.1 hrs in a Let L-13 glider, before flying it solo. The initial solo was the accident flight (flt) on 8/10/96. On this flight, the plt planned to be towed to traffic pattern altitude, then release the glider, enter the traffic pattern, & land. Release occurred about 3 mi southwest of the airport at 1,850 ft. Airport elevation was 269 ft. Witnesses said the L-13 entered a right spin about 5 to 10 sec after release & continued spinning until ground impact. To keep the center-of-gravity (CG) from exceeding the aft limit, a placard had been installed in the cockpit, indicating the minimum front seat solo weight to be 150 lbs. The L-13's operating manual contained this & other info based on the L-13's original weight & balance (W/B) configuration. The plt weighed between 128 & 135 lbs, & a single 25 lb ballast bag was found in the wreckage. However, after repainting & modification with a non-standard tailwheel, the glider's revised W/B data indicated the current minimum front seat solo weight was 181 lbs. Based on this info (kept in the operator's maintenance shop), the glider's C.G. was computed to be 1.4 inches behind the aft limit. The plt's personal copy of the L-13 operating manual did not contain the revised W/B data. Copies of the glider's operating manual were being sold to renters without this info.
Probable Cause: failure of the operator to provide its pilots with information essential for an accurate determination of the glider's weight and balance, the resultant operation of the glider with a center-or-gravity that exceeded the aft limit, and the pilot's inadvertent entry into a stall/spin. Factors relating to the accident were: an incorrect placard concerning the glider's minimum front seat solo weight limitation, and the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model of aircraft.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB SEA96FA186
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:23 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 08-Apr-2024 19:40 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
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