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July 6, 1982 · Miller Tufts T-3-160 Tufts T-3 · N1051K

Placerville, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 6, 1982
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Placerville, CA
Aircraft
Miller Tufts T-3-160 Tufts T-3
Tail Number
N1051K
Operator
Warren Tufts
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX82FVG28

THE HOME BUILT ACFT WAS OF THE PLT'S OWN DESIGN. IT WAS A 4 PLACE, LOW WING ACFT WITH A LARGE CANOPY & SMALLER VERT TAIL SURFACES AND WAS EQUIPPED WITH FLAPS, FOLDING WINGS & FIXED TAIL WHL GEAR. THE PLT/DESIGNER WAS TRYING A NEW CONCEPT OF LATERAL CONTROL BY USING "ROLLERONS" INSTEAD OF CONVENTIONAL AILERONS. THEY OPERATED SOMEWHAT LIKE SPOILERS ON A GLIDER. THE ROLLERONS WERE 2 FT LONG, 6 IN WIDE, INSTLD ON THE TOP & BOTTOM OF EACH WING AT THE TIPS. FOR A RGT TURN, THE RGT TOP ROLLERON WOULD MOVE UP 8 THE LFT BOTTOM WOULD MOVE DWN WHILE THE OTR 2 RMND IMMOBILE. FOR A HI SPD TAXI TEST, THE RUDDER & ELEVATORS WERE TUFTED WITH YARN TO SHOW AIRFLOW & AN ASSOCIATE FLWD TO OBSV. HE RPRTD THAT THE ACFT BCM AIRBORNE, VEERED OFF THE RWY, WENT DWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT, THEN CRASHED & BURNED. ANOTHER ASSOCIATE OF THE PLT RPRTD THAT WHEN HE TAXIED THE ACFT AT HI SPD, IT FELT LIKE IT WAS CROSS-CONTROLLED & THERE WAS A "DEAD SPOT" WHEN THE "ROLLERON" CONTROL WAS AT THE NEUTRAL POSITION.

Full Narrative

THE HOME BUILT ACFT WAS OF THE PLT'S OWN DESIGN. IT WAS A 4 PLACE, LOW WING ACFT WITH A LARGE CANOPY & SMALLER VERT TAIL SURFACES AND WAS EQUIPPED WITH FLAPS, FOLDING WINGS & FIXED TAIL WHL GEAR. THE PLT/DESIGNER WAS TRYING A NEW CONCEPT OF LATERAL CONTROL BY USING "ROLLERONS" INSTEAD OF CONVENTIONAL AILERONS. THEY OPERATED SOMEWHAT LIKE SPOILERS ON A GLIDER. THE ROLLERONS WERE 2 FT LONG, 6 IN WIDE, INSTLD ON THE TOP & BOTTOM OF EACH WING AT THE TIPS. FOR A RGT TURN, THE RGT TOP ROLLERON WOULD MOVE UP 8 THE LFT BOTTOM WOULD MOVE DWN WHILE THE OTR 2 RMND IMMOBILE. FOR A HI SPD TAXI TEST, THE RUDDER & ELEVATORS WERE TUFTED WITH YARN TO SHOW AIRFLOW & AN ASSOCIATE FLWD TO OBSV. HE RPRTD THAT THE ACFT BCM AIRBORNE, VEERED OFF THE RWY, WENT DWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT, THEN CRASHED & BURNED. ANOTHER ASSOCIATE OF THE PLT RPRTD THAT WHEN HE TAXIED THE ACFT AT HI SPD, IT FELT LIKE IT WAS CROSS-CONTROLLED & THERE WAS A "DEAD SPOT" WHEN THE "ROLLERON" CONTROL WAS AT THE NEUTRAL POSITION.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:10 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway23
Runway Length4200 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftMiller Tufts T-3-160 Tufts T-3
Tail NumberN1051K
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorWarren Tufts
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 57 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point15 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data