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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

November 15, 1992 · Litchford Falcon XP · UNREG

Palm Springs, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 15, 1992
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Palm Springs, CA
Aircraft
Litchford Falcon XP
Tail Number
UNREG
Operator
Wayne R Litchford
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX93LA041

The pilot of the unregistered and unlicensed experimental homebuilt requested a high speed taxi test from the ATCT controllers with an option to takeoff for closed traffic. Witnesses said the aircraft became airborne after about a 150 foot ground roll and entered a steep climb. The pilot then reported to ATCT that 'I've just lost a rudder pedal.' The aircraft then fell off on a wing and entered a steep nose down spin or spiral to ground impact. Earlier in the day, an airline pilot who also holds an A & P mechanic's certificate talked to the pilot and looked over the aircraft. The pilot told the witness that the aircraft had not flown in two or three years. The witness said he saw many discrepancies on the aircraft as he watched the pilot work on the rudder cables in the rear seat area. Some items noted by the witness were: 1) rudder cables not routed correctly on the pulleys in the cockpit area, 2) rear cockpit right rudder pedal was collapsed on the floor, and 3) rudder cables connected to the winglet rudders with bungee cords which were tied together. The witness said he recommended to the pilot that it not be flown. FAA inspectors examined the aircraft and reported that control system continuity could not be established due to cockpit impact damage.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL FOR REASONS RELATED TO THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION AND FUNCTIONING OF THE RUDDER CONTROL SYSTEM, AND, THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT ENTRY INTO A STALL SPIN.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT OF THE UNREGISTERED AND UNLICENSED EXPERIMENTAL HOMEBUILT REQUESTED A HIGH SPEED TAXI TEST FROM THE ATCT CONTROLLERS WITH AN OPTION TO TAKEOFF FOR CLOSED TRAFFIC. WITNESSES SAID THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE AFTER ABOUT A 150 FOOT GROUND ROLL AND ENTERED A STEEP CLIMB. THE PILOT THEN REPORTED TO ATCT THAT 'I'VE JUST LOST A RUDDER PEDAL.' THE AIRCRAFT THEN FELL OFF ON A WING AND ENTERED A STEEP NOSE DOWN SPIN OR SPIRAL TO GROUND IMPACT. EARLIER IN THE DAY A AIRLINE PILOT WHO ALSO HOLDS AN A & P MECHANIC'S CERTIFICATE TALKED TO THE PILOT AND LOOKED OVER THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT TOLD THE WITNESS THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD NOT FLOWN IN TWO OR THREE YEARS. THE WITNESS SAID HE SAW MANY DISCREPANCIES ON THE AIRCRAFT AS HE WATCHED THE PILOT WORK ON THE RUDDER CABLES IN THE REAR SEAT AREA. SOME ITEMS NOTED BY THE WITNESS WERE: 1) RUDDER CABLES NOT ROUTED CORRECTLY ON THE PULLEYS IN THE COCKPIT AREA, 2) REAR COCKPIT RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL WAS COLLAPSED ON THE FLOOR, AND 3) RUDDER CABLES CONNECTED TO THE WINGLET RUDDERS WITH BUNGEE CORDS WHICH WERE TIED TOGETHER. THE WITNESS SAID HE RECOMMENDED TO THE PILOT THAT IT NOT BE FLOWN. FAA INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND REPORTED THAT CONTROL SYSTEM CONTINUITY COULD NOT BE ESTABLISHED DUE TO COCKPIT IMPACT DAMAGE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:43 PST
Nearest AirportPalm Springs Muni (0nm N)
Runway13
Runway Length8500 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftLitchford Falcon XP
Tail NumberUNREG
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorWayne R Litchford
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 503 · Reciprocating · 65
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 42 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind80° @ 10 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 15000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time21:43
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data