# Accident 20011003031879A: Let L33SOLO, Windsor, VA, October 3, 2001 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: October 3, 2001, 13:00 local time - Place: Windsor, VA - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Descent - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 36.7996° N, 76.7293° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7996&lon=-76.7293&mi=10 - Aircraft: N388BA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N388BA-2013-08-14) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Let L 33 SOLO (registry code 1360309, https://openairdocs.org/model/let-l-33-solo) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LET L33SOLO - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 236 total, 13 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC02LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA027) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011003031879A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) ON OCTOBER 3, 2001, ABOUT 1300L, N388BA, A LET-L33 SOLO GLIDER WAS SPINNING DOWN FROM 4000' WHEN A SMALL BATTERY CHARGER, A FOREIGN OBJECT, THAT WAS LEFT IN THE COCKPIT BECAME LODGED IN THE RUDDER CONTROLS. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER FROM THE SPIN, BUT FINALLY GOT THE ROTATION ALMOST STOPPED. AT THAT POINT, THE GLIDER WAS STILL DIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, SO THE PILOT PULLED BACK HARD, WHICH RESULTED IN HEAVY G-LOADING. AFTER THE RECOVERY WAS EFFECTED, THE PILOT LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. ACCORDING TO THE SAFETY OFFICER OF THE SOARING CLUB THAT OWNED THE GLIDER, HE WAS EXAMINING THE GLIDER IN EARLY NOVEMBER AND NOTICED SKIN DEFORMATION. THERE WAS ALSO PAINT MISSING FROM THE RIVET HEADS NEAR THE WING ROOT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRANSPORTED TO A MAINTENANCE FACILITY IN SOUTH CAROLINA. THERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WINGS WERE DAMAGED BEYOND SERVICEABLE LIMITS. ON NOVEMBER 13, 2001, THE SOARING CLUB MET WITH THE RICHMOND FSDO AND NOTIFIED THE FAA OF THE ACCIDENT. (.4) THE PILOT COMPLETED A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE GLIDER, INCLUDING THE COCKPIT AREA. AFTER A TOW RELEASE AT 3,000 FEET MSL, THE PILOT FLEW FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR. TO DESCEND, THE PILOT COMPLETED A SPIN TO THE RIGHT. HE THEN INDUCED A SPIN TO THE LEFT, AND HEARD A LOUD BANG WHEN AN OBJECT STRUCK THE INSIDE OF THE CANOPY. THEN PILOT THEN SAW THE OBJECT FLOAT FORWARD AND SETTLE INTO THE AREA WHERE THE RUDDER PEDALS WERE LOCATED. AS HE TRIED TO APPLY OPPOSITE RUDDER, HE FELT A BINDING IN THE PEDALS. HE HAD SUFFICIENT RUDDER AUTHORITY TO STOP THE SPIN'S ROTATION; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE'S DIVE ANGLE AND AIRSPEED HAD INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. THE PILOT "PULLED BACK FAIRLY HARD" ON THE CONTROL STICK, AND AS THE AIRSPEED CLIMBED TO 100-110 KNOTS, HE RECOVERED THE GLIDER. THE OBJECT THAT BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE RUDDER PEDALS WAS SUBSEQUENTLY IDENTIFIED AS A TRANSFORMER USED FOR CHARGING THE GLIDER'S BATTERY. THE TRANSFORMER WAS NOT NORMALLY USED IN THE GLIDER FOR RECHARGING. IT HAD BEEN BORROWED FROM ANOTHER CLUB MEMBER, AND "SOMEONE" HAD USED IT TO CHARGE THE BATTERY VIA A LONG EXTENSION CORD. THE BATTERY WOULD HAVE NORMALLY BEEN DISCONNECTED, AND PUT ON A SMALL TRANSFORMER/CHARGER IN THE CLUB OFFICE. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB NYC02LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA027), Oct 3, 2001: Let Blanik L 33 Solo (N388BA), Windsor, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a loose battery charger becoming entangled in the rudder pedals during a spin recovery, and a subsequent overstress of the glider.… ## Other reports on N388BA (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20110817019129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110817019129A), Aug 17, 2011: Let L 33 SOLO (N388BA), Wakefield, VA, Substantial damage. The glider pilot could not maintain altitude due to "sink" in the area. He elected to land in a bean field. Upon touchdown, the left wing contacted the bean… From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.