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NTSB Report
July 2, 1989 · Progress Aero R&D Discovery · N81D
Chualar, CA
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 2, 1989
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Chualar, CA
Aircraft
Progress Aero R&D Discovery
Tail Number
N81D
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX89DVM04
THE EXPERIMENTAL COMPOSITE STRUCTURED ACFT WAS ON A TEST FLT. DRG A SLOW AIRSPEED TEST, IT ENTERED A FLAT SPIN FROM WHICH THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER BY USING NORMAL CONTROLS. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A BALLISTIC PARACHUTE. THE PLT DEPLOYED THE CHUTE & SHUT DOWN THE ENG. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN WITH A PARACHUTE DESCENT RATE OF ABOUT 1800 FT/MIN. DRG TOUCHDOWN, THE PLT SUFFERED NECK & BACK INJURIES. HE RPRTD THAT DRG THE FLT, ALL FLT CONTROL SURFACES RESPONDED NORMALLY TO HIS CONTROL INPUTS. THE AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS WHICH PRODUCED THE SPIN WERE NOT IDENTIFIED.
NTSB Probable Cause
THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT'S INADVERTENT ENTRY INTO A NON-RECOVERABLE FLAT SPIN DURING A SLOW AIRSPEED TEST; THE AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS THAT PRODUCED THE SPIN WERE NOT DETERMINED.
Full Narrative
THE EXPERIMENTAL COMPOSITE STRUCTURED ACFT WAS ON A TEST FLT. DRG A SLOW AIRSPEED TEST, IT ENTERED A FLAT SPIN FROM WHICH THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER BY USING NORMAL CONTROLS. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A BALLISTIC PARACHUTE. THE PLT DEPLOYED THE CHUTE & SHUT DOWN THE ENG. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN WITH A PARACHUTE DESCENT RATE OF ABOUT 1800 FT/MIN. DRG TOUCHDOWN, THE PLT SUFFERED NECK & BACK INJURIES. HE RPRTD THAT DRG THE FLT, ALL FLT CONTROL SURFACES RESPONDED NORMALLY TO HIS CONTROL INPUTS. THE AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS WHICH PRODUCED THE SPIN WERE NOT IDENTIFIED.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:00 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftProgress Aero R&D Discovery
Tail NumberN81D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235 · Reciprocating · 112
Seats2
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 34 · First Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind125° @ 15 kt, gusting 20 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter32.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT