19980705015849A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Rolsch LS-6 · Llano, CA · July 5, 1998

Date: July 5, 1998 · 13:35 local
Place: Llano, CA
Airport: Crystal Airport
Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N6686
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX98LA221
Reported as: Rolsch LS6
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 4,186 total550 in this make and model

N6686Registration cancelled Oct 23, 1998 · Rolladen-Schneider LS-6S/N 6002 Airframe modelRolladen-Schneider LS-6

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Rt aileron or wing was flutter before glider release. After release went into right spriral. Impacted ground. (.4) the glider was towed aloft and witnesses observed the right wing ocillating. After release about 400 to 500 feet AGL, the glider went into a right spiral and impacted the ground. The airport owner examined the glider after the accident and reported that the quick disconnect fitting for the right aileron was found disconnected. The pilot had reassembled the glider on the morning of the accident and did not perform a control continuity check prior to takeoff. (-23) aircraft was being towed by another aircraft for launch. Witnesses say that the aircraft was immediately unstable. Glider released from tow plane and immediately made a right spiral descent into the ground. (Appears that the pilot forgot to connect the cable to the aileron).

As the FAA filed it

RT AILERON OR WING WAS FLUTTER BEFORE GLIDER RELEASE. AFTER RELEASE WENT INTO RIGHT SPRIRAL. IMPACTED GROUND. (.4) THE GLIDER WAS TOWED ALOFT AND WITNESSES OBSERVED THE RIGHT WING OCILLATING. AFTER RELEASE ABOUT 400 TO 500 FEET AGL, THE GLIDER WENT INTO A RIGHT SPIRAL AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE AIRPORT OWNER EXAMINED THE GLIDER AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND REPORTED THAT THE QUICK DISCONNECT FITTING FOR THE RIGHT AILERON WAS FOUND DISCONNECTED. THE PILOT HAD REASSEMBLED THE GLIDER ON THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT AND DID NOT PERFORM A CONTROL CONTINUITY CHECK PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. (-23) AIRCRAFT WAS BEING TOWED BY ANOTHER AIRCRAFT FOR LAUNCH. WITNESSES SAY THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IMMEDIATELY UNSTABLE. GLIDER RELEASED FROM TOW PLANE AND IMMEDIATELY MADE A RIGHT SPIRAL DESCENT INTO THE GROUND. (APPEARS THAT THE PILOT FORGOT TO CONNECT THE CABLE TO THE AILERON).

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX98LA221Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLlano, CAThe failure of the pilot to attach the aileron quick disconnect fitting during assembly of the glider and his inadequate preflight inspection.Jul 5, 1998 · Destroyed