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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

July 9, 1995 · Avid Aircraft Flyer · N8031M

Auburn, KS

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 9, 1995
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Auburn, KS
Aircraft
Avid Aircraft Flyer
Tail Number
N8031M
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI95LA214

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD FLOWN THE AIRCRAFT TWICE IN NOVEMBER 1994, AND THAT THE AILERONS HAD BEEN 'SLUGGISH' AND 'SPONGY.' HE HAD NOT FLOWN AGAIN UNTIL THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. HE DEPARTED HIS PRIVATE AIRSTRIP AND 'WIGGLED' THE WINGS PASSING 50 FEET. HE FELT THE SAME SLUGGISHNESS THAT HE FELT THE PREVIOUS NOVEMBER. AT 200 FEET HE REDUCED POWER AND STARTED A 15 DEGREE ANGLE OF BANK TURN. HE TRIED LEVELING THE WINGS BUT THE AILERONS WERE UNRESPONSIVE AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO ROLL. AT 50 FEET HE APPLIED FULL POWER AND RIGHT RUDDER. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND WITH THE WINGS NEARLY LEVEL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MIGHT HAVE REDUCED TOO MUCH POWER AND GOT TOO SLOW, STALLING THE AIRPLANE. HE HAD NOT FLOWN RECENTLY. HE ALSO STATED THAT ANOTHER EXPERIENCED PILOT FAMILIAR WITH AN 'AVID FLYER' SHOULD HAVE CHECKED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BEFORE HE HAD FLOWN THE AIRPLANE AGAIN.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot operating the airplane with known deficiencies. Factors included lack of recent flight experience, inadequate maintenance, and low airspeed.

Full Narrative

On July 8, 1995, at 1945 central daylight time, an experimental Avid Flyer, N8031M, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing. The aircraft had climbed to 200 feet after takeoff and experienced problems with the ailerons. The private pilot received minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was departing a private airstrip at Auburn, Kansas, on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot stated that he had flown with his son in November of 1994, and that the controls felt spongy so he decided to return and land. He flew the airplane one more time in November 1994 and noted that the ailerons still felt spongy. He didn't fly the airplane again until the day of the accident, almost eight months later. He departed his private airstrip and during takeoff he "wiggled" his wings at 50 feet. He felt the same control problem that he had felt in November. At about 200 feet AGL he reduced power and started a 15 degee angle of bank turn to return to the runway. When he tried to return the controls to level flight, the ailerons were unresponsive and the airplane continued to roll. At about 50 feet he applied full power and right rudder. The airplane hit the ground at near wings level. The pilot stated that he could have reduced power too much and got too slow, which stalled the aircraft. He believed the combination of aileron sluggishness and slow flight was the problem. He also stated that he had not flown recently. He further stated that he should have performed his preflight differently. He knew that the ailerons were not quite right and that he should have had a pilot with more experience look over the aileron control rigging before he flew the airplane again.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:45 CDT
Nearest AirportPrivate Airstrip (0nm)
Runway36
Runway Length1900 ft
Runway Width40 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAvid Aircraft Flyer
Tail NumberN8031M
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · Reciprocating · 66
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 44 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 4 kt
Visibility6 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data