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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

May 18, 1984 · Harper/Cricri MK-12 · N42JH

Longmont, CO

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 18, 1984
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Longmont, CO
Aircraft
Harper/Cricri MK-12
Tail Number
N42JH
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN84FTE01

The homebuilt aircraft was on downwind leg of the traffic pattern, after initial takeoff, when it went into a dive and collided with the ground. A witness said he heard a power reduction before the dive and power added again as it started down. The pilot's son said his father had control flutter problems at speeds above 100 mph. This was verified by a logbook entry. By reducing speed, the flutter went away. Thus, the flaperon (aileron) push rods were modified by the pilot. The modification consisted of a doubler, 2 bearings and a 1 inch hole to retain the bearings. During a post accident inspection, it was found that the bellcrank arm had separated from the bearing. It was found that the drilled hole was irregular and large enough to allow the bearing to slip through the hole. The bearing was the only means of retaining the bellcrank to the fulcrum point. The right aileron at the accident scene was separated from the main wreckage and the control push rods to the elevator were broken at the bracket attached to the elevator.

Full Narrative

THE HOMEBUILT ACFT WAS ON DOWNWIND LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, AFTER INITIAL TAKEOFF, WHEN IT WENT INTO A DIVE & COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. A WITNESS SAID HE HEARD A POWER REDUCTION BEFORE THE DIVE & POWER ADDED AGAIN AS IT STARTED DOWN. THE PLT'S SON SAID HIS FATHER HAD CONTROL FLUTTER PROBLEMS AT SPEEDS ABOVE 100 MPH. THIS WAS VERIFIED BY A LOGBOOKENTRY. BY REDUCING SPEED, THE FLUTTER WENT AWAY. THUS, THE FLAPERON (AILERON) PUSH RODS WERE MODIFIED BY THE PLT. THE MODIFICATION CONSISTED OF A DOUBLER, 2 BEARINGS & A 1 INCH HOLE TO RETAIN THE BEARINGS. DURING A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BELLCRANK ARM HAD SEPARATED FROM THE BEARING. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE DRILLED HOLE WAS IRREGULAR & LARGE ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE BEARING TO SLIP THRU THE HOLE. THE BEARING WAS THE ONLY MEANS OF RETAINING THE BELLCRANK TO THE FULCRUM POINT. THE RIGHT AILERON AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE WAS SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE AND THE CONTROL PUSH RODS TO THE ELEVATOR WERE BROKEN AT THE BRACKET ATTACHED TO THE ELEVATOR.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:35 MDT
Nearest AirportLongmont Muni (3nm N)
Runway11
Runway Length4200 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHarper/Cricri MK-12
Tail NumberN42JH
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsJpx · PUL 212 · Reciprocating · 15
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 52 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility75 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data