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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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April 15, 2013 · Jans Robert Falcon XP · N86FB

Diboll, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 15, 2013
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Diboll, TX
Aircraft
Jans Robert Falcon XP
Tail Number
N86FB
Operator
Jerry R Morehouse
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CEN13CA302

While the pilot was conducting a fast taxi test, the experimental airplane that he had been rebuilding for almost 2 years unexpectedly became airborne. The pilot's intent was not to fly. There was not enough runway remaining to land safely, so the pilot decided to continue flying the airplane about 5 miles to an airport that had multiple long runways and to try to land. He flew the airplane in a large circle trying to get the feel for the controls so he would be better prepared to land. There was a 10-pound sandbag in the rear seat that the pilot used to lay on the front canard when the airplane was parked. He said that the weight helped the airplane from tipping over backward when the motor was not running and no one in the cockpit. He said that he intended to buckle the sandbag in prior to the taxi test, but did not. While circling for a long final approach, the elevator froze and the airplane pitched down. The pilot could not move the control stick rearward to arrest the descent. He tried everything to release the control jam including putting so much back pressure on the control stick that it bent, still with no change. He saw wires approaching and was hoping that he would clear them, but the airplane hit the wires in the middle of the lines. Both wings came off and the airplane caught fire and fell straight down, about 50 feet. After impact, three men appeared and freed the pilot from the burning airplane. The pilot later looked at the burned out fuselage and confirmed that the sandbag was where he thought it had ended up, between the back seat and the rear control stick. He said that he should have taken the time to secure the sandbag prior to the taxi test.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot did not properly secure a sand bag in the airplane's rear seat causing its flight controls to become jammed and resulting in the airplane's inability to avoid a collision with power lines.

Full Narrative

While the pilot was conducting a fast taxi test, the experimental airplane that he had been rebuilding for almost 2 years, unexpectedly became airborne. The pilot's intent was not to fly. There was not enough runway remaining to land safely so the pilot decided to continue flying the airplane about 5 miles to an airport that had multiple long runways and to try to land. He flew the airplane in a large circle trying to get the feel for the controls so he would be better prepared to land. There was a 10-pound sandbag in the rear seat that the pilot used to lay on the front canard when the airplane was parked. He said that the weight helped the airplane from tipping over backward when the motor was not running and no one in the cockpit. He said that he intended to buckle the sandbag in prior to the taxi test, but did not. While circling for a long final approach, the elevator froze and the airplane pitched down. The pilot could not move the control stick rearward to arrest the descent. He tried everything to release the control jam including putting so much back pressure on the control stick that it bent, still with no change. He saw wires approaching and was hoping that he would clear them, but the airplane hit the wires in the middle of the lines. Both wings came off and the airplane caught fire and fell straight down, about 50 feet. After impact, three men appeared and freed the pilot from the burning airplane. The pilot later looked at the burned out fuselage and confirmed that the sandbag was where he thought it had ended up, between the back seat and the rear control stick. He said that he should have taken the time to secure the sandbag prior to the taxi test.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:30 CDT
Nearest AirportAngelina County Airport (5nm)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftJans Robert Falcon XP
Tail NumberN86FB
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorJerry R Morehouse
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 503 · Reciprocating · 52
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 59 · None · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F
Altimeter29.87 inHg
Observation Time23:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data