# NTSB LAX07LA240: Luscombe 8E, N45486, Polson, MT, August 3, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 2007, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Polson, MT - Coordinates: 47.6952777777778, -114.185277777778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6953&lon=-114.1853&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66378 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07LA240 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66378/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07LA240 ## Probable cause a flight control jam 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, approach - vfr pattern - base turn - flt control syst,aileron control - jammed (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot was turning left base to final when the controls jammed. He applied rudder and added power in an attempt to compensate, but roll control was not regained. He reduced power and examined the cockpit area to see if anything was binding the controls. He did not identify anything in the cockpit that could have caused the binding. The airplane continued left thru two full turns (720 degrees) before the main landing gear contacted the ground, at which point the airplane cartwheeled and came to rest inverted. He egressed the airplane uninjured. The pilot stated to an FAA inspector that when he knew it was safe to approach the airplane, he checked the controls to see if they were still jammed and determined that they were no longer binding or jammed. They functioned normally. The on-scene FAA inspector examined the airplane's control system and could not identify any evidence of binding or jammed controls. ## Factual narrative On August 3, 2007, about 0900 mountain daylight time, a Luscombe 8E, N45486, impacted terrain while turning base to runway 36 at Polson Airport, Polson, Montana. The private pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Livingston, Montana, about 0630. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that as he was turning left base for final the controls jammed. He applied rudder and added power in an attempt to compensate but roll control was not regained. He reduced power and examined the cockpit area to see if anything was binding the controls. He did not identify anything in the cockpit that could have caused the binding. The airplane continued left thru two full turns (720 degrees) before the main landing gear contacted the ground, at which point the airplane cartwheeled and came to rest inverted. He egressed the airplane uninjured. The pilot stated to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that when he knew it was safe to approach the airplane, he checked the controls to see if they were still jammed and determined that they were no longer binding or jammed. They functioned normally. The on-scene FAA inspector examined the airplane's control system and could not identify any evidence of binding or jammed controls. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N45486](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N45486), registered now, S/N 2013, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Luscombe 8E - Registry model: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8E](https://openairdocs.org/model/silvaire-luscombe-8e) (registry code 8190128) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2013 - Airframe hours: 1549 - Engines: Teledyne Continental C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gerald Meyer - Registered owner: Candance M. Hamlin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2007 - Departed: KLVM, Livingston, MT - Destination: K8S1, Polson, MT - Airport: K8S1, Polson Airport, runway 36, 4,195 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 4,200 total, 75 in this make and model, 4,200 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg ## 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 20070803016309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070803016309A), Aug 3, 2007: Luscom 8E, Polson, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 3, 2007, at 0930 local time, a Luscombe 8E, serial number 2013, N45486, registered to [privacy data omitted] and piloted by [privacy data… ## Other investigations on N45486 (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 LAX82DA350](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82DA350), Sep 21, 1982: Luscombe 8E (N45486), Ramona, CA, destroyed 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.