# NTSB CHI95LA214: Avid Flyer, N8031M, Auburn, KS, July 9, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 8, 1995, 19:45 local (Jul 9, 1995, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Auburn, KS - Coordinates: 38.899436, -95.809188 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8994&lon=-95.8092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 30, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9937 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA214 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9937/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA214 ## Probable cause the pilot operating the airplane with known deficiencies. Factors included lack of recent flight experience, inadequate maintenance, and low airspeed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - flight control,aileron - failure,partial - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed - low, pilot in command (contributing factor) - maintenance - inadequate, owner/pilot mechanic (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD FLOWN THE AIRCRAFT TWICE IN NOVEMBER 1994, AND THAT THE AILERONS HAD BEEN 'SLUGGISH' AND 'SPONGY.' HE HAD NOT FLOWN AGAIN UNTIL THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. HE DEPARTED HIS PRIVATE AIRSTRIP AND 'WIGGLED' THE WINGS PASSING 50 FEET. HE FELT THE SAME SLUGGISHNESS THAT HE FELT THE PREVIOUS NOVEMBER. AT 200 FEET HE REDUCED POWER AND STARTED A 15 DEGREE ANGLE OF BANK TURN. HE TRIED LEVELING THE WINGS BUT THE AILERONS WERE UNRESPONSIVE AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO ROLL. AT 50 FEET HE APPLIED FULL POWER AND RIGHT RUDDER. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND WITH THE WINGS NEARLY LEVEL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MIGHT HAVE REDUCED TOO MUCH POWER AND GOT TOO SLOW, STALLING THE AIRPLANE. HE HAD NOT FLOWN RECENTLY. HE ALSO STATED THAT ANOTHER EXPERIENCED PILOT FAMILIAR WITH AN 'AVID FLYER' SHOULD HAVE CHECKED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BEFORE HE HAD FLOWN THE AIRPLANE AGAIN. ## Factual narrative On July 8, 1995, at 1945 central daylight time, an experimental Avid Flyer, N8031M, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing. The aircraft had climbed to 200 feet after takeoff and experienced problems with the ailerons. The private pilot received minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was departing a private airstrip at Auburn, Kansas, on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot stated that he had flown with his son in November of 1994, and that the controls felt spongy so he decided to return and land. He flew the airplane one more time in November 1994 and noted that the ailerons still felt spongy. He didn't fly the airplane again until the day of the accident, almost eight months later. He departed his private airstrip and during takeoff he "wiggled" his wings at 50 feet. He felt the same control problem that he had felt in November. At about 200 feet AGL he reduced power and started a 15 degee angle of bank turn to return to the runway. When he tried to return the controls to level flight, the ailerons were unresponsive and the airplane continued to roll. At about 50 feet he applied full power and right rudder. The airplane hit the ground at near wings level. The pilot stated that he could have reduced power too much and got too slow, which stalled the aircraft. He believed the combination of aileron sluggishness and slow flight was the problem. He also stated that he had not flown recently. He further stated that he should have performed his preflight differently. He knew that the ailerons were not quite right and that he should have had a pilot with more experience look over the aileron control rigging before he flew the airplane again. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8031M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8031M-2007-11-28), registration cancelled 2007-11-28, S/N 580, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Avid Aircraft FLYER - Registry model: [Maclaskey Michael A AVID FLYER](https://openairdocs.org/model/maclaskey-michael-a-avid-flyer) (registry code 056167P) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 580 - Airframe hours: 100 - Engines: Rotax 66 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael A. Maclaskey - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 31, 1995, 0 hours before - Airport: Private Airstrip, runway 36, 1,900 × 40 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: front; flight hours: 187 total, 100 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 4 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F ## 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 19950708017569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950708017569A), Jul 8, 1995: Amtr AVIDFLYER, Auburn, KS, Substantial damage. Aileron problem on climbout. Lost control turning back and stalled. Aileron problem known prior to flight. 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.