# Accident 20100408032759A: Snow Van E SNOW ROCKET, Borrego Springs, CA, April 8, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 8, 2010, 12:58 local time
- Place: Borrego Springs, CA
- Airport: Borrego Valley
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.2589° N, 116.3208° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2589&lon=-116.3208&mi=10
- Aircraft: N28VS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28VS-2017-06-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Snow Van E SNOW ROCKET F1 (registry code 05627CG, https://openairdocs.org/model/snow-van-e-snow-rocket-f1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41585, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNOW VAN E SNOW ROCKET
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO 540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,700 total, 230 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10LA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA195) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100408032759A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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.

## 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 WPR10LA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA195), Apr 8, 2010: Snow Rocket F1 (N28VS), Borrego Springs, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The 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.

## Other reports on N28VS (1)

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

- [Accident 20090408024519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090408024519A), Apr 8, 2009: Amtr SNOWROCKETF1 (N28VS), Borrego Spring, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot was performing aerobatic maneuvers approximately 1/2 mile north of Borrego Valley arpt. (L08) in preparation for an aerobatic competition or exhibition…

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.

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