Accident Luscombe 8F N3550G,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 36762
 
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Date:Saturday 28 January 1989
Time:17:15
Type:Silhouette image of generic L8 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Luscombe 8F
Owner/operator:private
Registration: N3550G
MSN: S-82
Engine model:CONTINENTAL C-90-12-F
Fatalities:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Category:Accident
Location:Lake Elsinore, CA -   United States of America
Phase: Take off
Nature:Private
Departure airport:Lake Elsinore, CA (CL47)
Destination airport:Corona, CA (L66)
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF, AT 300-400 FT AGL, THE ACFT SUDDENLY ROLLED INTO A 90 DEG BANK TO THE RIGHT AND SPUN TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT/OWNER HAD PERFORMED MODIFICATIONS TO THE AILERON CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH WERE CONTRARY TO THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS AND WITHOUT FAA APPROVAL. ANOTHER LUSCOMBE PILOT/OWNER HAD PERFORMED THE SAME MODIFICATION OF THE AILERON'S RIGGING TO HIS OWN ACFT WHICH RESULTED IN THE ACFT'S ROLL BECOMING UNSTABLE WHEN BANKING OVER 30 DEG. HE INFORMED THE ACCIDENT PILOT THAT THE AILERON RIGGING MODIFICATION HAD PROVED UNSATISFACTORY. ANOTHER MODIFICATION WAS THE REMOVAL OF FAIRLEADS WHICH WERE ORIGINALLY LOCATED IN THE AREA OF THE DOOR POSTS AND REPLACED WITH METAL PULLEYS. THE PILOT HAD BEEN DIABETIC FOR OVER 20 YEARS; NO MENTION OF THIS ON THE PILOT'S MEDICAL APPLICATIONS. CAUSE: LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO IMPROPER AND/OR UNAPPROVED MODIFICATIONS TO THE AIRCRAFT'S AILERON CONTROL SYSTEM BY THE PILOT/OWNER. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PILOT/OWNER'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY TO MODIFY THE AILERON CONTROL SYSTEM WITHOUT APPROVAL BY THE MANUFACTURER OR THE FAA.

Sources:

NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001213X27605

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
24-Oct-2008 10:30 ASN archive Added
21-Dec-2016 19:23 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency]

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