# NTSB MIA89LA087: Harmon Velocity, N330RH, Fort Lauderdale, FL, February 17, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 17, 1989, 15:23 local (20:23 UTC)
- Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Coordinates: 26.189727, -80.169906 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1897&lon=-80.1699&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 22, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32400
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA087
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32400/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA087

## Probable cause

THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO RECOVER FROM THE INTENTIONAL STALL WITH AN UNKNOWN C.G.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - stall - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft weight and balance - not identified, pilot in command
  - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

WHILE INTENTIONALLY PERFORMING STALLS, THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER THE ACFT FROM A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE BEFORE COLLIDING WITH TERRAIN. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, WEIGHT & BALANCE CALCULATIONS COULD NOT BE PERFORMED TO DETERMINE THE C.G. AS THE PLT WOULD NOT PROVIDE THE PERTINENT INFORMATION. VELOCITY MANUFACTURER PERSONNEL STATED THE C.G. WAS AFT OF THE LIMIT. AS A RESULT A LETTER WAS SENT TO BUILDERS/OWNERS OF THESE ACFT ADVISING THEM TO REFRAIN FROM OPERATING THE ACFT WITH A C.G. AFT OF 118.5'. A SECOND LETTER WAS SENT WHICH ADVISED OWNERS TO MODIFY THE WING FUEL TANK BULKHEAD LOCATIONS AS WELL AS TO SUGGEST POSSIBLE CHANGES SUCH AS: LIMIT THE ACFT C.G. RANGE; SHORTEN THE CANARD; MOVE THE ENGINE FORWARD; & CHANGE THE FUEL TANK STRAKES. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO TEST THE MODIFICATION OF THE CANARD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N330RH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N330RH-2013-07-02), registration cancelled 2013-07-02, S/N DM069, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HARMON VELOCITY
- Registry model: [Harmon Richard VELOCITY](https://openairdocs.org/model/harmon-richard-velocity) (registry code 05612DU) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: DM069
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Good, Marvin F
- Registered owner: Exotic Aircraft Engineering
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FXE, 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 19890217007939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890217007939A), Feb 17, 1989: Amtr VELOCITY, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. Intentionaly stalled aircraft. Lost control and collided with ocean in nose high attitude. Load shift aft of CG.

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.

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