Accident Steen Skybolt N360HP, Wednesday 15 December 1993

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Date:	Wednesday 15 December 1993
Time:	18:00 LT
Type:	Steen Skybolt
Owner/operator:	Ebershoff Airplane Co., Inc.
Registration:	N360HP
MSN:	DE1002
Total airframe hrs:	1100 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming IO-540-K1AS
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Erie, CO - United States of America
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Unknown
Departure airport:	Broomfield, CO (KBJC)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
DURING A POST-MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT, THE PILOT ACCELERATED THE HIGHLY MODIFIED AEROBATIC AIRPLANE TO 190 MPH. IMMEDIATELY, THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BEGAN TO FLUTTER. THE PILOT RAISED THE NOSE, SLOWED THE AIRPLANE, AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED A FRACTURED LOWER RIGHT AFT WING SPAR, AND A LOWER LEFT AILERON ACTUATOR THAT HAD BUCKLED IN COMPRESSION OVERLOAD.

Probable Cause: WAS FLUTTER OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.

Accident investigation: