LAX96LA056

The pilot executed a slipping maneuver to lose altitude while in the traffic pattern. During the maneuver he failed to execute a proper recovery and lost control of the airplane.

On November 26, 1995, at 0948 hours Pacific standard time, a Monocoupe 90A, N11768, crashed in an open field about 1/2 mile southeast of the approach end of runway 26 at Salinas Airport, Salinas, California. The pilot was conducting a local visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot and his wife, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Salinas Airport at 0930 hours.

The pilot reported in a telephone interview conducted on November 26, 1995, that he was practicing touch-and-go landings and takeoffs. He said he completed one landing and then reentered the traffic pattern. He said that the airplane was a little high while on final approach and he applied left rudder and right aileron to slip the airplane.

After losing a little altitude, the pilot neutralized the controls, but the airplane continued in a left turn. He applied additional rudder and aileron, but without success; the airplane continued in a turn. The pilot said that the airplane made at least two, 360-degrees turns but he was able to raise the airplane's nose before colliding with the terrain.

The airplane landed in a nose level, left wing down attitude and nosed over onto its back.

The pilot repeated his statement in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB 6120.1/2.

An airworthiness inspector from the FAA, San Jose [California] Flight Standards District Office, conducted the on-scene investigation. He said that he established operational continuity of the rudder and elevator flight controls. He said that the ailerons were jammed and could not be moved and that he could not determine if this condition occurred before impact. The inspector said, in part, ". . . the fuselage and wings were damaged in a manner that could have crimped the control cables. . . ."

The airplane wreckage was transported to Faeth Aircraft Salvage, Sacramento, California. At the request of the National Transportation Safety Board, another FAA inspector from the Sacramento Flight Standards District Office examined the flight control system. The inspector said that both wings were removed and that the ailerons were previously disconnected at the wing root at the time of his inspection.

He said that "there were no defects or abnormalities detected and the aileron system continuity existed." The cable pulleys were found properly positioned around the pulleys. The pulleys rotated freely, were securely fastened, and their respective guards were effective in maintaining the pulley in place. He said that the system hardware and linkage did not display any ". . .binding, fractures, corrosion, bending, or defect which could attribute to binding or jamming the system. . . ." The aileron control surfaces were free and smooth and were adequately fitted with the appropriate clearance.