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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

May 13, 1993 · Jones Lightning BUG 2 Lightning · N200NJ

Walterboro, SC

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 13, 1993
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Walterboro, SC
Aircraft
Jones Lightning BUG 2 Lightning
Tail Number
N200NJ
Operator
Jones Howell C Jr
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL93LA092

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT TO EVALUATE A NEW PROPELLER INSTALLATION. THE AIRFRAME TOTAL TIME WAS ABOUT 7 HOURS. THE PILOT WAS THE DESIGNER AND BUILDER OF THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT. DURING THE FLIGHT, HE REPORTED A LOSS OF ELEVATOR AUTHORITY. HE BAILED OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A WOODED, SWAMPY AREA. AN EXAMINATION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM REVEALED THAT A ROD END FITTING HAD DISCONNECTED, RENDERING THE ELEVATOR INEFFECTIVE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WOULD CHANGE THE DESIGN OF THE FITTINGS TO INCORPORATE COTTER PINS FOR ADDED SECURITY ON FUTURE AIRCRAFT

NTSB Probable Cause

THE DISCONNECTION OF AN ELEVATOR ROD END FITTING IN FLIGHT, WHICH DISABLED THE ELEVATOR

Full Narrative

On May 13, 1993, at about 1000 eastern daylight time, a Jones Lightning Bug 2, N200NJ, crashed near Walterboro, South Carolina, following a reported loss of elevator control. The commercial pilot had minor injuries. The home built aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the local, maintenance test flight. The flight originated at the Walterboro Municipal Airport at about 0940. The pilot reported the following: The purpose of the flight was to flight test a new propeller installation. He departed from runway 23 at the Walterboro Airport. During the flight, at about 1,500 feet mean sea level (MSL), he observed that the elevator control had become inoperative. He bailed out of the aircraft, and the aircraft crashed in a wooded, swampy area. The wreckage was found on May 24, 1993. An airworthiness inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the recovered wreckage and the design drawings of the elevator control system. The inspector reported that an aft rod end fitting, part number MD3614, in the elevator system had disconnected (unscrewed) from the aft end of the elevator push pull tube. The pilot, who also designed the aircraft, reported that he plans to change the design of the elevator system to incorporate cotter pins at rod end fittings for added security.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:00 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftJones Lightning BUG 2 Lightning
Tail NumberN200NJ
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorJones Howell C Jr
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsAmw · 250-HAGD-03 · Reciprocating · 100
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 65 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind250° @ 9 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 6000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point66 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time14:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data