# NTSB MIA89LA117: Lee, David Velocity, N81VA, Ponte Vedra Bch, FL, March 29, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 29, 1989, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Ponte Vedra Bch, FL
- Coordinates: 30.230823, -81.380493 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2308&lon=-81.3805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 29, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32415
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA117
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32415/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA117

## Probable cause

FAILURE THROUGH AN OVERSIGHT TO REMOVE THE CANARD GAP SEALS PRIOR TO AGGRAVATED STALL TESTING WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT ENTERING AN UNCONTROLLABLE FLIGHT REGIME.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - flight control surfaces/attachments - improper (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR-BUILT ACFT WAS ON A TEST FLT AT 10,000 FT TO PERFORM SOME MANEUVERS WITH THE CG AT THE MOST REARWARD LIMITS. THE ACFT WAS PLACED INTO AN 'AGGRAVATED STALL' DURING WHICH THE ACFT ENTERED A 'DEEP STALL'. ALL CONVENTIONAL & UNCONVENTIONAL MEANS OF REGAINING CONTROL OF THE ACFT, INCLUDING THE PLT CLIMBING OUT OF THE COCKPIT & LEANING AS FAR FWD AS POSSIBLE, FAILED TO RECOVER CONTROL OF THE ACFT. AT ONE POINT, THE PLT CONSIDERED BAILING OUT, BUT CHANGED HIS MIND DUE TO THE ZERO BANK, ZERO FWD SPEED, ZERO YAW & SLOW DESCENT TOWARD THE OCEAN. AFTER THE HARD VERTICAL IMPACT, THE PLT RELEASED HIS HARNESS & STEPPED INTO THE WATER. THE ACFT WAS RECOVERED & AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE CANARD GAP SEALS WHICH HAD BEEN INSTALLED TO ENHANCE PITCH AUTHORITY OF THE CANARD ON THE PREV FLT, WERE STILL IN PLACE DUE TO AN OVERSIGHT. WITH THE GAP SEALS INSTALLED, THE CANARD PITCH AUTHORITY EXCEEDED THE AUTHORITY OF THE WING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N81VA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N81VA), registered now, S/N DM0043 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LEE, DAVID VELOCITY
- Registry model: [Lee David VELOCITY](https://openairdocs.org/model/lee-david-velocity) (registry code 056124J) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: DM0043
- Airframe hours: 110
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Lee, David
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 20, 1989, 15 hours before
- Departed: SGJ, ST. AUGUSTINE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 12,000 total, 20 in this make and model, 11,000 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRG, 10 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 19890329007119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890329007119A), Mar 29, 1989: Amtr VELOCITY, Ponte Vedra Bch, FL, Substantial damage. On builders test flight for aft stability entered flat unrecoverable spin into ocean. Canard gap seals not removed.

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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