- Date
- April 13, 2000, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Mulberry, FL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N103MVMcCan Velox REV II
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 4, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000413004409A
- Case key
- 48944
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The bending overstress separation of the elevator pitch control rod for undetermined reasons. This resulted in an in-flight loss of control, bail out, and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was performing an aerobatic sequence in preparation for an airshow. After several maneuvers he experienced a loss of elevator control while inverted. He jettisoned the canopy and bailed out. Examination of the flight control system revealed a failure of the elevator pitch control rod. Further analysis of the pitch control rod revealed the rod had failed in bending overstress for undetermined reasons.
Factual narrative
On April 13, 2000, at about 1230 eastern daylight time, a Velox Rev II, N103MV, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a flight control malfunction in flight while maneuvering in the vicinity of Mulberry, Florida. The pilot bailed out of the airplane. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot reported minor injuries. The airplane was destroyed. The flight originated from Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport (LAL), Lakeland, Florida, about 10 minutes before the accident.
The pilot stated he departed LAL and was practicing an aerobatic sequence in preparation for the airshow at Sun n' Fun. He completed several maneuvers and experienced a loss of elevator control while inverted and pointed slightly down. He jettisoned the canopy and bailed out of the airplane. He landed about 1,000 feet from the airplane which crashed adjacent to a public highway.
Examination of the flight control system revealed the elevator pitch control rod was fractured. The elevator pitch control rod was forwarded to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for further analysis. Examination of the elevator pitch control rod revealed it was fractured through the end fitting and tube section. Optical examinations revealed the failures were consistent with bending overstress separations. No evidence of preexisting cracking, corrosion, or other damage was found. (For additional information see NTSB Materials Laboratory Factual Report No. 00-077, an attachment to this report.)
The airplane was released to Mr. Daniel H. McCan, registered owner of N103MV on April 13, 2000. The fractured elevator pitch control rod was released to Mr. McCan on July 11, 2000.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N103MV
- Reported as
- McCan Velox REV II (VELOX REV)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- DHM002
- Airframe hours
- 50
- Engine
- Lycoming IO540, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Daniel H. Mccan
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 9, 2000 · 50 hours before
- Departed
- LAL · Lakeland, FL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 44
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 4,600 total · 100 in this make and model · 4,600 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LAL
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.