# NTSB NYC04LA133: Mosher Avid Heavy Hauler, N5139W, Fitchburg, MA, May 27, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 27, 2004, 14:20 local (18:20 UTC) - Place: Fitchburg, MA - Coordinates: 42.55389, -71.758331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5539&lon=-71.7583&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 59352 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59352/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA133 ## Probable cause The malfunction of the elevator control system, resulting in a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - flt control syst,elevator control - malfunction (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - fence ## Analysis During initial climbout, the pilot began to experience problems with the elevator control. He elected to return to the airport; however, he could not control the descent rate. As the airplane neared the ground, the pilot realized that he would not be able to land on the runway, and performed a forced landing to a field. After touching down in the field, the airplane impacted a fence, and subsequently caught fire. Examination of the wreckage, after it was moved to a recovery facility, revealed that the airplane sustained extensive impact and fire damage. It was noted that the flight control tube, which was inserted into the elevator control linkage tube, was "floating," and not secured. Due to damage to the airframe, it could not determined if the tubing was secured prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 2004, at 1420 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Avid Heavy Hauler, N5139W, was destroyed during a forced landing after departing from the Fitchburg Municipal Airport (FIT), Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot and passenger were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, during initial climb out after departing the airport, he began to experience problems with the elevator control. He elected to return to the airport; however, he could not control the descent rate. As the airplane neared the ground, the pilot realized that he would not be able to land on the runway, and performed a forced landing to a field. After touching down in the field, the airplane impacted a fence, and subsequently caught fire. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, after it was moved to a recovery facility, revealed that the airplane sustained extensive fire damage. The airframe and its associated components were also beginning to rust. Continuity of the flight control system was confirmed; however, it was noted that the flight control tube, which was inserted into the elevator control linkage tube, was "floating," and not secured. Due to the damage to the airframe, the inspector could not determine if the tubing was secured prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5139W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5139W-2005-05-05), registration cancelled 2005-05-05, S/N 704 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mosher Avid Heavy Hauler - Registry model: [Mosher Richard AVID HEAVY HAULER](https://openairdocs.org/model/mosher-richard-avid-heavy-hauler) (registry code 05620RG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 704 - Airframe hours: 288 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas E. Bramich Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 24, 2003, 58 hours before - Departed: FIT, Fitchburg, MA - Airport: FIT, Fitchburg Municipal Airport, runway 14, 4,510 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 27, 2002; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.70 inHg - Observed at: FIT ## 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 20040527017189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040527017189A), May 27, 2004: Amtr AVIDHAULER, Fitchburg, MA, Destroyed. (-23) Mr. Bramich stated that he arrived at the airport at 12:30 pm on the afternoon of 5-27-2004. He completed a preflight on aircraft N5139W, his… 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.