SEA94LA076

When the pilot, who was also the manufacturer, put the seat in the 'kit-built' aircraft, he did not attach the seat to the airframe as recommended by the kit designer. After approximately 28 hours of total flying time, the seat slipped from its normal position in the airframe during a touch-and-go landing, and fell upon the aileron control rod. This caused the aileron control system to jam, and the pilot executed a go-around using rudder and elevator control inputs. During the ensuing full stop landing, the pilot lost control of the aircraft as he initiated the landing flare.

On March 8, 1994, approximately 1210 Pacific standard time (PST), a Tucker KITFOX IV, N1942J, collided with the terrain during a landing attempt at Evergreen Field, Vancouver, Washington. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, received minor injuries, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The local personal pleasure flight, which departed the same location about 1145 PST, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the pilot, the seat fell down onto the flight controls during a touch-and-go landing, and he executed a go-around using rudder and elevator control inputs. During the subsequent landing, flight control movements were restricted by the seat's interference with the aileron control system, and the pilot lost control of the aircraft during the landing flare.

Further investigation revealed that the pilot, who was also the manufacturer, did not attach the seat to the airframe as recommended by the kit designer. Because the seat was not attached with either the tie wraps or Adele clamps the kit designer suggested using, the seat slipped from the position in which it had been installed, and fell upon the aileron control rod.