ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 296340
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| Date: | Friday 20 December 2002 |
| Time: | 13:03 |
| Type: | Team Rocket F-1 |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N140TC |
| MSN: | 030 |
| Engine model: | Lycoming IO-540 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Rosenberg, TX -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Houston-Sugar Land Regional Airport, TX (SGR/KSGR) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On December 20, 2002, at 1303 central standard time, a Creekmore Team Rocket F-1 homebuilt single-engine airplane, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following the in-flight separation of the vertical stabilizer near Rosenberg, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from Sugarland Regional Airport (SGR), near Sugarland, Texas, at 1200.
The vertical stabilizer separated from the airplane in-flight while descending to land. Witnesses reported observing the airplane in a near vertical descent as it disappeared from their view, and that they heard the engine making a "high level of noise." After the airplane descended from view, the witnesses observed a piece(s) of the airplane "fluttering down." An examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, and a representative from the manufacturer, revealed that the upper attachment fitting for the vertical fin aft spar was not installed. This is a 1 x 1 x.125 inch extruded angle that is designed to absorb the fin torque loads resulting from rudder deflections. Four AN3 fasteners attach this fitting to the aft section of the fuselage, and to the vertical fin aft spar. It was also observed that the vertical fin forward spar attach holes were not drilled, as directed by the assembly manual.
Probable Cause: The in-flight separation of the vertical stabilizer as a result of the builder's failure to install the upper attachment fitting for the vertical fin aft spar.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB FTW03LA061
Location
Images:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 13-Oct-2022 19:27 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
| 14-Aug-2023 11:45 | Captain Adam | Updated |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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