20100408032759A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Snow Van E Snow Rocket · Borrego Springs, CA · April 8, 2010

Date: April 8, 2010 · 12:58 local
Place: Borrego Springs, CA
Airport: Borrego Valley
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N28VS
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR10LA195
Reported as: Snow Van E Snow Rocket
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-540 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,700 total230 in this make and model10 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.

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 WPR10LA195Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBorrego Springs, CAThe pilot's inability to maintain control due to the in-flight failure and separation of the pilot's flight control stick. The reason for the flight control stick failure could not be determined.Apr 8, 2010 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N28VS · 1

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

Accident 20090408024519AManeuver · Borrego Spring, 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, 2009 · Destroyed · 1 fatal