# NTSB LAX95LA306: Short Lancair 320, N3204S, Rio Vista, CA, August 26, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 26, 1995, 12:03 local (19:03 UTC) - Place: Rio Vista, CA - Coordinates: 38.179161, -121.730163 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1792&lon=-121.7302&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 30, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29195 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA306 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29195/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA306 ## Probable cause the failure of the wing flap actuator pushrod creating an asymmetrical flap condition during the landing flare maneuver. A contributing factor was the failure of the owner/builder to incorporate a manufacturer's design change for a stronger actuator pushrod. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - flight control,flap - asymmetrical - flt control syst,wing flap control cable/rod - failure (cause) - maintenance,design change - not performed, owner/builder (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command ## Analysis THE PILOT OF THE AMATEUR BUILT AIRCRAFT REPORTED THAT DURING FLARE FOR LANDING THE RIGHT WING DROPPED AND CONTACTED THE RUNWAY DESPITE HIS EFFORTS TO HOLD THE WING UP USING FULL LEFT AILERON CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED, THE RIGHT WING DROPPED AGAIN, AND THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT AND GROUND LOOPED. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FLAP WAS FULLY EXTENDED AND THE RIGHT FULLY RETRACTED, WITH NO INDICATION OF IMPACT DAMAGE ON THE RIGHT FLAP. THE RIGHT WING FLAP ACTUATING PUSHROD WAS FOUND BENT AND THE THREADED PORTION OF THE ROD END WAS FRACTURED. THE DESIGNER OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHO SELLS THE AIRCRAFT TO BUILDERS IN KIT FORM, STATED THAT THE FAILED PUSHROD HAD BEEN SUPERSEDED BY A STRONGER ROD DESIGN 4 YEARS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT IN RESPONSE TO OPERATOR REPORTS OF BENT PUSHRODS. AT THAT TIME, A BULLETIN REGARDING THE CHANGE WAS SENT TO KIT OWNERS. ## Factual narrative On August 26, 1995 at 1203 hours Pacific daylight time, a Short Lancair 320, N3204S, was substantially damaged when the pilot lost control of the aircraft during the landing flare, impacted the runway and ground looped on runway 25 at Rio Vista, California. The amateur built aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The private pilot reported minor injuries and the sole passenger received serious injuries. The flight departed from Delano, California, at 1040. The pilot reported that during flare for landing the right wing dropped and contacted the runway despite his efforts to hold the wing up using full left aileron control. The aircraft bounced, the right wing dropped again, and the aircraft veered off the runway to the left and ground looped. The aircraft came to rest headed east, about 1500 feet beyond the runway threshold and 50 feet left (south) of the runway centerline. After exiting the aircraft, the pilot and his passenger noticed that the left wing flap was fully extended and the right wing flap was fully retracted. There were no impact marks on the right wing flap. Inspection of the aircraft revealed that the right wing flap actuating pushrod had broken. The pushrod had a long, smooth "S" bend over its length. In the threaded end of the rod near the rod-end fitting attachment there was a sharp, 85-degree bend where the rod had broken apart. The designer of the aircraft, who sells the aircraft to builders in kit form, stated that the failed pushrod had been superseded by a stronger rod design 4 years prior to the accident in response to operator reports of bent pushrods. At that time, a bulletin regarding the change was sent to kit owners. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3204S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3204S-1996-08-22), registration cancelled 1996-08-22, S/N 330 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SHORT LANCAIR 320 (LANCAIR 32) - Registry model: [Short Ronald H LANCAIR 320](https://openairdocs.org/model/short-ronald-h-lancair-320) (registry code 05618Y1) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 330 - Airframe hours: 746 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald H. Short - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 1995, 110 hours before - Departed: DLO, DELANO, CA - Destination: O88 - Airport: O88, Rio Vista Airport, runway 25, 3,060 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,044 total, 750 in this make and model, 1,989 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 5 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SUU, 12 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 19950826025959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950826025959A), Aug 26, 1995: Amtr LANCAIR, Rio Vista, CA, Substantial damage. Wing hit runway on landing flare. Bounced. Unable bring wing up. Ground looped. Right wing flap up. Rod had broken. 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.