ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 40504
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| Date: | Tuesday 26 May 1998 |
| Time: | 19:45 LT |
| Type: |  Rans S-9 Chaos |
| Owner/operator: | Dennis S. Morelli |
| Registration: | N1189Z |
| MSN: | 1291103 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 11 hours |
| Engine model: | Rotax 503 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Taunton, MA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | (KTAN) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot had been making adjustments to the carburetors on the 2 cycle, non-certificated engine. He was flying the homebuilt airplane without the engine cowling or canopy in place. While circling near the airport, the airplane was observed to enter a spin and it disappeared from view in a near vertical nose down attitude. No evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found with the airplane or engine. The Chief Engineer for the kit manufacturer reported, '...The flying qualities would have been altered due to the large increase in drag and disruption of the airflow over the fuselage and tail surfaces. The aircraft stall and spin characteristics could have been dramatically changed from previously tested configurations. The assembly manual and flight operations manuals clearly indicate that the cowl and canopy should be in place before flying the aircraft and that operation of the aircraft in any other configuration is not approved.'
Probable Cause: The pilot's operation of the aircraft in an unapproved configuration contrary to procedures resulting in diminished aircraft control, and his failure to maintain control of the aircraft resulting in a stall/spin event. Contributing factors were the non-installation of the canopy and engine cowling during flight.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB NYC98FA117
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:23 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 07-Apr-2024 11:54 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, Accident report] |
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