20090408024519A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Amtr SNOW ROCKET F1 · Borrego Spring, CA · April 8, 2009

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal NTSB investigation search

Date: April 8, 2009 · 12:58 local
Place: Borrego Spring, CA
Airport: Borrego Valley
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N28VS
Reported as: Amtr SNOWROCKETF1
Reported engine: Lycoming IO540*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,700 total230 in this make and model110 in the last 90 days

N28VSRegistration cancelled Jun 19, 2017 · Snow Van E SNOW ROCKET F1S/N 001 · Built 2008 Airframe modelSnow Van E SNOW ROCKET F1 Engine modelLycoming IO-540 seriesReciprocating

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.

Pilot was performing aerobatic maneuvers approximately 1/2 mile north of Borrego Valley arpt. (L08) in preparation for an aerobatic competition or exhibition the following day. He had just re-entered the aeorbatic box at about 3000 ft AGL, and begun a steep descent to build airspeed. At about 2000 ft. AGL he radioed that he had no back stick. When asked if he had control of the aircraft he replied, "no, not at all." He was advised to try the electric trim. He replied, "there is no trim." (It had failed). The aircraft descended to the ground on an easterly heading, at about a 30-40 degree nose down attitude and crashed. The pilot was fatally injured in the crash. The airplane was destroyed.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT WAS PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE NORTH OF BORREGO VALLEY ARPT. (L08) IN PREPARATION FOR AN AEROBATIC COMPETITION OR EXHIBITION THE FOLLOWING DAY. HE HAD JUST RE-ENTERED THE AEORBATIC BOX AT ABOUT 3000 FT AGL, AND BEGUN A STEEP DESCENT TO BUILD AIRSPEED. AT ABOUT 2000 FT. AGL HE RADIOED THAT HE HAD NO BACK STICK. WHEN ASKED IF HE HAD CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT HE REPLIED, "NO, NOT AT ALL." HE WAS ADVISED TO TRY THE ELECTRIC TRIM. HE REPLIED, "THERE IS NO TRIM." (IT HAD FAILED). THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED TO THE GROUND ON AN EASTERLY HEADING, AT ABOUT A 30-40 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND CRASHED. THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED IN THE CRASH. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED.

Other reports on N28VS · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 20100408032759AManeuver · Borrego Springs, CAPilot was performing aerobatic maneuvers approximately 1/2 mile north of Borrego Valley arpt. (L08) in preparation for an aerobatic competition or exhibition the following day. He had just re-entered the aeorbatic box at about 3000 ft AGL, and begun a steep…Apr 8, 2010 · Destroyed · 1 fatal