ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 235699
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| Date: | Sunday 3 May 2020 |
| Time: | 11:10 |
| Type: |  Rans S-12 Airaile |
| Owner/operator: | 13FG LLC |
| Registration: | N427LB |
| MSN: | 05934191195 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2004 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 281 hours |
| Engine model: | Rotax 912ULS |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Blake Field Airport (AJZ/KAJZ), Delta, CO -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Delta-Blake Field, CO (KAJZ) |
| Delta-Blake Field, CO (KAJZ) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot of the test flight was attempting to correct airplane stability issues before the flight. A witness assumed that the pilot was planning to perform a high-speed taxi test rather than flight, and that the airplane’s takeoff was unintentional. After takeoff, the airplane was seen in the airport traffic pattern at 300-400 ft above ground level. Witnesses then observed the airplane change pitch and bank while the engine was heard increasing to full power and then decreasing. The airplane stalled, impacted terrain, and was destroyed by impact forces.
Post-accident examination of the airplane confirmed flight control and engine continuity. There were four ballast bags (about 25 lbs each) and two dumbbell weights (marked 35 lbs). All the ballast bags and one dumbbell weight were in the passenger seat area. High-speed taxi testing is not a test area of aircraft stability and control. Given the pilot’s previous statement of his intentions and the presence of ballast/weights in the passenger seat area, it is likely that he was experimenting with airplane stability and control when the airplane exceeded its critical angle of attack, which led to an aerodynamic stall.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a test flight which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://coloradosun.com/2020/05/03/delta-colorado-plane-crash/
https://www.firehouse.com/operations-training/news/21136603/pilot-killed-trying-to-land-small-plane-at-co-airport
FAA
NTSB
https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N427LB
http://www.ransclan.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-5456.html
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 03-May-2020 21:36 | Geno | Added |
| 04-May-2020 07:19 | The2ndBaron | Updated [Operator, Nature] |
| 04-May-2020 12:40 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Registration, Cn, Operator, Source, Narrative] |
| 04-May-2020 21:48 | Geno | Updated [Phase, Destination airport, Source, Damage] |
| 07-May-2020 07:34 | Anon. | Updated [Damage, Plane category] |
| 08-May-2022 03:44 | Captain Adam | Updated [Time, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, Plane category, Category, Accident report] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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