- Date
- November 17, 1991, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Palmer, MA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- UNREGAdvanced Buccaneer SX B1B-503
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report April 27, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 37039
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
A failed lower rudder attach pivot bolt which resulted in jammed flight controls and an uncontrolled descent into trees.
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
After takeoff, the pilot started a turn. He heard something let go and the rudder and elevator jammed. He was unable to control the airplane and made an uncontrolled descent into trees. Post accident investigation disclosed the lower rudder attach pivot bolt had failed due to corrosion. The airplane was an ultralight operating as an unregistered airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Advanced Buccaneer SX B1B-503 (BUCCANEER)
- Category
- Airplane
- Engine
- Rotax 503, 46 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Clifford W. Heaton
- Registered owner
- Clifford W. Heaton
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Airport
- PMX · Palmer Metro, runway 4, 2,475 × 55 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 40
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 280 total · 80 in this make and model · 200 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 40° at 20 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None