SEA83FU009

NTSB accident investigation · CGS Hawk · Richland, WA · September 20, 1983

Accident · Serious injuriesFinal report
Date
September 20, 1983, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC)
Place
Richland, WA
Injuries
1 serious
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
UNREGCGS Hawk
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
39643

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Analysis

After being assembled, the ultralight vehicle was taxi tested, and on 9/19/83, it was flown on its 1st flt. The next morning it was taxi tested again. At aprx 0855 PDT, the plt took off on a local flt. At aprx 0945, after making a touch-and-go landing, the plt was turning final for another landing when the ultralight began an uncommanded, smooth, left roll at about 200 to 300 ft AGL. Corrective aileron was applied, but the ultralight continued to roll left & subsequently crashed in a steep nose down attitude. An exam revealed there was continuity to all flt controls. Both wings & the fuselage tube were damaged during the accident. The left wing trailing edge tube had failed at a bolt hole where the left rear strut brackets were installed. Additional washers had been installed on the bolt & the self locking nut had been torqued until the threads on the nut were beyond the threaded portion of the bolt. There was evidence that the rear spar had separated & the bolt had rotated aprx 20 deg prior to impact. No airspeed ind installed.

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.

Airframe/component/system failure/malfunctionApproach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
Flight/nav instruments,airspeed indicator - lack of
Wing,bracing strut - overtorque
Maintenance,installation - improper
Inadequate trainingPilot in command
Lack of total experiencePilot in command
Wing,spar - failure,totalCause
Loss of control - in flightApproach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Aircraft

Registration
UNREG
Reported as
CGS Hawk
Category
Ultralight
Serial number
H5 152K
Engine
Kawasaki 440/2A, 35 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 103
Registered owner
David L. Quinn
Airport
RLD · Richland, runway 7, 3,995 × 100 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
29
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Unknown
Seat
Center
Flight hours
7 total · 3 in this make and model · 3 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
250° at 5 knots
Visibility
35 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
46 °F, dew point 36 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
PSC, 8 nm away