# NTSB ATL93LA092: Jones Lightning BUG 2, N200NJ, Walterboro, SC, May 13, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 13, 1993, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Walterboro, SC - Coordinates: 32.899135, -80.669822 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8991&lon=-80.6698&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 3, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3210 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3210/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA092 ## Probable cause THE DISCONNECTION OF AN ELEVATOR ROD END FITTING IN FLIGHT, WHICH DISABLED THE ELEVATOR ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal - flt control syst,elevator control attach points - disconnected (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT TO EVALUATE A NEW PROPELLER INSTALLATION. THE AIRFRAME TOTAL TIME WAS ABOUT 7 HOURS. THE PILOT WAS THE DESIGNER AND BUILDER OF THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT. DURING THE FLIGHT, HE REPORTED A LOSS OF ELEVATOR AUTHORITY. HE BAILED OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A WOODED, SWAMPY AREA. AN EXAMINATION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM REVEALED THAT A ROD END FITTING HAD DISCONNECTED, RENDERING THE ELEVATOR INEFFECTIVE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WOULD CHANGE THE DESIGN OF THE FITTINGS TO INCORPORATE COTTER PINS FOR ADDED SECURITY ON FUTURE AIRCRAFT ## Factual narrative On May 13, 1993, at about 1000 eastern daylight time, a Jones Lightning Bug 2, N200NJ, crashed near Walterboro, South Carolina, following a reported loss of elevator control. The commercial pilot had minor injuries. The home built aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the local, maintenance test flight. The flight originated at the Walterboro Municipal Airport at about 0940. The pilot reported the following: The purpose of the flight was to flight test a new propeller installation. He departed from runway 23 at the Walterboro Airport. During the flight, at about 1,500 feet mean sea level (MSL), he observed that the elevator control had become inoperative. He bailed out of the aircraft, and the aircraft crashed in a wooded, swampy area. The wreckage was found on May 24, 1993. An airworthiness inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the recovered wreckage and the design drawings of the elevator control system. The inspector reported that an aft rod end fitting, part number MD3614, in the elevator system had disconnected (unscrewed) from the aft end of the elevator push pull tube. The pilot, who also designed the aircraft, reported that he plans to change the design of the elevator system to incorporate cotter pins at rod end fittings for added security. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N200NJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N200NJ-1994-05-03), registration cancelled 1994-05-03, S/N 001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JONES LIGHTNING BUG 2 (LIGHTNING) - Registry model: [Jones Howell C JR LIGHTNING BUG 2](https://openairdocs.org/model/jones-howell-c-jr-lightning-bug-2) (registry code 056187D) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Airframe hours: 7 - Engines: AMW 250-HAGD-03 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Jones, Howell C. Jr. - Registered owner: Jones, Howell C. Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 28,000 total, 260 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CHS, 30 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19930513015339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930513015339A), May 13, 1993: Amtr LIGHTINGBUG, Walterboro, SC, Destroyed. Lost elevator control on test flight. Bailed out. Aircraft crashed. Elevator control rod came off. Not safetied. 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. --- 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.