ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 364652
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| Date: | Saturday 24 August 1991 |
| Time: | 11:25 LT |
| Type: | Beierle THUNDER GULL J |
| Owner/operator: | Mark Beierle |
| Registration: | UNREG |
| MSN: | 1 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 41 hours |
| Engine model: | BOMBARDIER ROTAX 503 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Santa Margarita, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | Santa Margarita, CA |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT AND A PASSENGER WERE CONDUCTING A FLIGHT TEST OF AN UNREGISTERED, HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING MARKETED AS AN ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE WITH AN EXCEPTION OF THE ULTRALIGHT REGULATIONS GRANTED TO THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION. THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS WHILE THE PASSENGER WAS FILMING THE EVENT FROM THE REAR SEAT. DURING THE PULL-UP PORTION OF AN IMMELMAN MANEUVER, THE LEFT WING FAILED AND FOLDED UPWARDS. THE PILOT DEPLOYED A BALLISTIC PARACHUTE TO CONTROL THE AIRPLNE'S DESCENT. AS THE PARACHUTE DEPLOYED, IT BECAME ENTANGLED WITH THE ENGINE PROPELLER AND WAS DAMAGED AND ONLY PARTIALLY INFLATED. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED AND STRUCK THE GROUND AT ABOUT 50 MPH. THE AIRPLANE AND PILOT DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE CONDITIONS OF THE ULTRALIGHT REGULATION EXEMPTION, AND THE VEHICLE IS CONSIDERED TO BE AN AIRPLANE.
Probable Cause: THE FAILURE OF THE WING SPAR WHEN THE DESIGN LIMITS OF THE AIRPLANE WAS EXCEEDED BY THE PILOT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN INADEQUATE AIRFRAME DESIGN AND AN ABRUPT MOVEMENT OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE PILOT.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX91LA375
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 19-Mar-2024 17:19 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
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