# NTSB SEA83FU009: CGS Hawk, Richland, WA, September 20, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: September 20, 1983, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Richland, WA
- Coordinates: 46.249454, -119.289817 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2495&lon=-119.2898&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39643
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA83FU009
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39643/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA83FU009

## 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

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - flight/nav instruments,airspeed indicator - lack of
  - wing,bracing strut - overtorque
  - maintenance,installation - improper
  - inadequate training, pilot in command
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command
  - wing,spar - failure,total (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CGS Aviation HAWK
- Category: Ultralight
- Serial number: H5 152K
- Engines: 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.

- 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

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.