# NTSB LAX02LA037: Bellanca 8KCAB, N50554, Long Beach, CA, December 2, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 2, 2001, 11:21 local (19:21 UTC) - Place: Long Beach, CA - Coordinates: 33.817779, -118.151664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8178&lon=-118.1517&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53854 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53854/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA037 ## Probable cause the loss of aircraft control while maneuvering for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - bail-out/emergency ejection - performed, flightcrew - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The airplane impacted the ocean in an uncontrolled descent after experiencing a loss of control while maneuvering. The certified flight instructor (CFI) demonstrated a 4-point roll and transferred control of the airplane to the pilot under instruction (PUI) so that he could demonstrate the maneuver. Shortly after transferring control, the airplane's nose pitched down 20-30 degrees. The PUI asked the CFI if he was causing the nose to pitch down, to which the CFI responded in the negative. The CFI attempted to correct the nose down pitch but the control stick had no effect and the trim would not budge. Both the CFI and the PUI bailed out of the airplane before it impacted the ocean. The airplane was not recovered, and the reason for the loss of control was not determined. ## Factual narrative On December 2, 2001, at 1121 Pacific standard time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, N50554, was destroyed during an uncontrolled descent into the Pacific Ocean near Long Beach, California. The certified flight instructor (CFI) received serious injuries and the commercial pilot under instruction (PUI) received minor injuries. Hart Air was operating the airplane, registered to a private individual, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight and a company flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated from Long Beach about 1035. According to the CFI who was in the rear seat, he was observing the commercial pilot in the front seat as part of a 30-day recurrency checkout. At 4,500 feet msl, the flight instructor demonstrated a 4-point roll and then asked the PUI to conduct one. The CFI transferred control to the PUI and shortly thereafter, the nose dropped 20-30 degrees below the horizon. The PUI asked the CFI if he was doing that intentionally, to which the CFI replied no. The CFI then pulled the control stick aft to no avail. He told the PUI to try the trim, but it would not budge. The CFI then told the PUI to bail out twice. The PUI jettisoned the door and bailed out. The CFI struggled over the seat before reaching the door. He pulled himself out and pulled his parachute ripcord just prior to impacting the water. The CFI estimated that the time between the loss of airplane control and impact with the water was 30-45 seconds. An eyewitness, located approximately 3 miles from the accident site, reported seeing several single engine airplanes conducting flight maneuvers offshore. All of the airplanes were flying above what the witness estimated to be 4,000 feet above ground level (agl). His attention was drawn to one of the airplanes, which had descended to approximately 2,000 feet agl. According to the witness, the airplane was making steep turns, climbs, and descents, and he believed the airplane was "too low for those types of maneuvers." The witness observed a parachute open in the sky adjacent to the airplane, while the airplane continued to fly in the aforementioned manner. Once the airplane reached approximately 500 feet, the airplane dove "nearly straight down towards the ocean." The witness then observed the airplane pull up within 6 feet of the ocean surface. The airplane "climbed nearly vertical to approximately 300 feet, rolled over into a dive and impacted the water at a high rate of speed." The airplane accumulated a total of 1,786 hours, and underwent its last annual inspection 40 hours prior to the accident. The airplane was not recovered. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50554](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50554-2002-04-01), registration cancelled 2002-04-01, S/N 542-79, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 8KCAB - Registry model: [Bellanca 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8kcab) (registry code 1220801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 542-79 - Airframe hours: 1786 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-360-HIA 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Hart Air - Registered owner: Jacques C. Naviaux - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 4, 2001, 40 hours before - Departed: LGB, Long Beach, CA - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 54; injuries: serious; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 1, 2001; seat: rear; flight hours: 10,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 180 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 11, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 908 total, 150 in this make and model, 881 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: LGB ## 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 20011202031379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011202031379A), Dec 2, 2001: Bbavia 8KCAB, Long Beach, CA, No damage. (-23) On December 2, 2001 at approximately 1130 local time, the pilots were practicing a 4-point roll in a Bellanca 8KCAB, N50554. After the maneuver was… 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.