Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary LAX89LA009

ALPINE, CA, USA

Aircraft #1

N5508H

BELLANCA 8KCAB

Analysis

DURING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD JUST RECOVERED FROM A ONE TURN SPIN AND WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT WHEN HE FELT THE AIRPLANE PITCH UP. HE ADDED A SMALL AMOUNT OF NOSE DOWN TRIM AND THE AIRPLANE PITCHED DOWN. HE STATED THAT AT THIS POINT 'THINGS DID NOT FEEL RIGHT'. HE PULLED BACK ON THE STICK AND IT DID NOT MOVE WELL, NOR WOULD IT CONTROL THE AIRPLANE. AFTER TRYING TO DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE PROBLEM AND A ATTEMPT TO TURN TOWARDS A POSSIBLE LANDING AREA, THE PILOT DECIDED TO EGRESS FROM THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE WAS CONDUCTED BY FAA INSPECTORS AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. MOST OF THE WRECKAGE WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT, HOWEVER THOSE CONTROL MECHANISMS THAT WERE NOT DESTROYED WERE FOUND TO BE IN WORKING ORDER. THE CONTROL STICK WAS BROKEN AT THE ATTACH POINT, HOWEVER AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE STICK WAS BROKEN DURING IMPACT.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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