# NTSB LAX07LA055: Higher Class Super Hornet, N45YB, Chandler, AZ, December 10, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 10, 2006, 09:52 local (16:52 UTC) - Place: Chandler, AZ - Coordinates: 33.257778, -111.825279 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2578&lon=-111.8253&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Higher Class Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 64990 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64990/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07LA055 ## Probable cause A loss of aircraft control 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, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that since taking delivery of the airplane, he had been having difficulty flying in a level attitude without applying left stick and left rudder. He contacted the factory and was advised as to what adjustments needed to be made to correct the airplane's out-of-trim condition. According to the manufacturer, those adjustments needed to be completed by an A&P certificated mechanic. During an interview with a Safety Board investigator, the pilot stated that he was not an A & P certificated mechanic, but he made the adjustments to the trim himself. On the day of the accident, after takeoff, the airplane banked and yawed to the right. When the pilot input left stick and left rudder to correct to a level flight attitude, there was no response from the airplane. The airplane continued to make a complete right-hand circle before the pilot was able to make an off airport landing where it struck a berm. Two separate examinations of the wreckage were conducted and investigators found that the airplane had been trimmed to fly to the left. No other mechanical abnormalities were found. ## Factual narrative On December 10, 2006, at 0952 mountain standard time, a Special-Light Sport Aircraft (S-LSA), Higher Class Aviation Super Hornet, N45YB, impacted terrain near Chandler, Arizona. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and the right horizontal stabilizer. The local area personal flight was departing Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD), Chandler. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. During interviews with the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot reported that since taking delivery of the airplane, he had been having difficulty flying in a level attitude without applying left stick and left rudder. The pilot had contacted the factory and was advised as to what adjustments needed to be made. According to the manufacturer, those adjustments needed to be completed by a certificated mechanic. The pilot reported to the Safety Board investigator that he made the adjustments himself, even though he is not a certificated mechanic. In a written statement, the pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, when the airplane was approximately 400 feet above ground level (agl), it banked and yawed to the right. The pilot applied left stick control and left rudder input, however, the airplane did not respond. The pilot stated that he was forced to land off the runway because he could not prevent the airplane from banking right. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the accident scene reported that there was a small debris field in a straight line on a magnetic heading of 305 degrees from the initial point of impact of the berm to the airplane's final resting point. The airplane came to rest on its right side. The accident site was 0.63 miles southwest of the departure end of runway 22R. The FAA inspector performed a continuity check of all flight controls, with no mechanical anomalies noted. The right fuel tank was not compromised, and remained full of fuel. The left fuel tank sustained impact damage during the accident sequence, and was breeched. The inspector observed fuel leaking from the left fuel tank at the accident scene. Both fuel bowls of the engine's dual-carburetor system were observed full of fuel when opened. The three-blade propeller was undamaged allowing the inspector to manually rotate it with no binding. The airplane had a Garmin 296 portable GPS on board, which was still operating. The FAA inspector retrieved the unit for further investigation. Likewise, the airplane was recovered for further investigation. The Safety Board investigator reviewed recorded data obtained from the GPS. The recorded data indicated that after takeoff, the airplane began to bank to the right, approximately 100 degrees in 21 seconds. It continued to bank to the right, completing a full 360-degree turn by the time of the crash approximately a minute later. Investigators examined the wreckage at Air Transport, Phoenix, Arizona. Investigators found that the airplane had been trimmed to fly to the left. No other mechanical abnormalities were found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N45YB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45YB-2007-04-25), registration cancelled 2007-04-25, S/N 060, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Higher Class Aviation Super Hornet - Registry model: [Higher Class SUPER HORNET](https://openairdocs.org/model/higher-class-super-hornet) (registry code 060003B) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 060 - Airframe hours: 18 - Engines: Rotax 912 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2006, 18 hours before - Departed: CHD, Chandler, AZ - Airport: CHD, Williams Afb, runway 22R, 4,401 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2005; seat: front; flight hours: 342 total, 15 in this make and model, 279 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: CHD, 1 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 20061210029489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061210029489A), Dec 10, 2006: Higher SUPERHORNET, Chandler, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) The following crash occurred on December 10, 2006 at 0952 MST. The experimental aircraft, N45YB, s/n 060 manufactured by Higher class aviation, a super… 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.