# Accident 20121128027479A: Lawson J/Bowie R/Smith M CA-8, Merritt Island, FL, November 28, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 28, 2012, 14:36 local time
- Place: Merritt Island, FL
- Airport: Merritt Island Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.3389° N, 80.6853° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3389&lon=-80.6853&mi=10
- Aircraft: N155JD, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N155JD-2018-02-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Lawson J/Bowie R/Smith M CA-8 (registry code 05610AT, https://openairdocs.org/model/lawson-j-bowie-r-smith-m-ca-8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Walter M601 series (registry code 64002, https://openairdocs.org/engine/walter-m601-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LAWSON J/BOWIE R/SMITH M CA-8
- Reported engine: WALTER M601 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 5,500 total, 100 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA069) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121128027479A

## Narrative

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

N155JD WAS ENROUTE TO MERRIT ISLAND AIRPORT ARRIVING VFR FROM THE NORTH AT 8500'. PRIOR TO ARRIVING AT MERRIT ISLAND THE PILOT EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE AILERONS OR AILERON SERVO FOR THE ELECTRIC TRIM. THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT HAVE MANUAL TRIM.  THE PILOT  WAS VERY SPECIFIC ON THE CONTROL SURFACE PRESSURES THAT HE WAS RECEIVING.  AT THE TIME OF LANDING HE COULD NOT KEEP THE RIGHT WING DOWN. WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS STILL AT THE ACCIDENT SITE I REMOVED ALL THREE OF THE SERVOS.  THE AILERON SERVO WAS BROKEN IN PIECES.  I COULD NOT TELL IF IT WAS BROKEN PRIOR TO IMPACT OR IF IT BROKE DURING IMPACT.   THE PILOT WAS INFORMED THAT NO TRAFFIC WAS OBSERVED BETWEEN THE AIRCRAFT AND THE AIRPORT AND RADAR SERVICE WAS TERMINATED.  THE PILOT ATTEMPTED LANDING AND WENT AROUND AND TOUCHED DOWN APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS TO THE SOUTH OF RUNWAY 29.  THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN NEAR A CANAL AND FLIPPED OVER AND LANDED ON ITS BACK.  THE AIRCRAFT TAIL AND LEFT WING BROKE APART AND THE PROPELLER WENT INTO THE MOCK AND WAS NOT RECOVERED.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THE CONTROLS DID NOT RESPOND AT ALL.   ALL THREE SERVOS WERE CHECKED FOR PROPER OPERATION.  TWO CHECKED OK AND THE THIRD SERVO (AILERONS) WAS BROKEN APART AND WAS NOT ABLE TO BE CHECKED.

## 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 ERA13LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA069), Nov 28, 2012: Lawson J/Bowie R/Smith M CA-8 (N155JD), Merritt Island, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to continue a cross-country flight as a primary control (aileron) system anomaly progressively worsened. Contributing to the accident was an aileron control system…

## Other reports on N155JD (1)

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

- [Incident 20010622013109I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010622013109I), Jun 22, 2001: Amtr CA8 (N155JD), Caruthersville, MO, Minor damage. (-23) Experimental aircraft performing flight testing at 15,500 feet MSL. At takeoff, pilot determined that 104 gallons of fuel was onboard aircraft. While at…

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.