ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 297833
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| Date: | Friday 5 July 2019 |
| Time: | 19:38 LT |
| Type: |  Piper PA-18 |
| Owner/operator: | Air America Aerial Ads, LLC |
| Registration: | N796AB |
| MSN: | 18-4529 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1955 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 12309 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming Engines O-360-A4M |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Bay City, Michigan -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Banner and glider towing |
| Departure airport: | Bay City, MI (3CM) |
| Bay City, MI (3CM) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The commercial pilot had completed one banner tow flight and was dropping the banner and picking up a second banner when the accident occurred. The operator reported that the pilot could not recall the events of the accident; however, witnesses saw the pilot conduct the banner drop from about 250 ft above ground level. After dropping the banner at an idle or nearly idle engine power setting, the airplane pitched up and abruptly banked left, impacting the ground about 180° from its previous heading.
The operator suggested that the pilot's attention may have been diverted following the drop, and while operating at a low engine power setting, the airplane slowed and experienced an aerodynamic stall. The operator reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe, engine, banner, or the tow equipment that would have precluded normal operation.
It is likely that the pilot failed to maintain adequate airspeed during the banner drop and pick-up procedure and exceeded the airplane's critical angle of attack. This resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control at an altitude that precluded recovery.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during a banner drop and pickup, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a subsequent loss of control.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB CEN19LA214
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 10 July 1975 | N3575P | Mile Hi Aviation | 1 | near Rifle, CO | |
sub |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 15-Oct-2022 09:12 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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