Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Somerville, Virginia 22739
Sunday, May 3, 1992 15:58 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT INDICATED BEFORE THE FLIGHT THAT HE WAS GOING TO DO SOME AEROBATICS. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT WAS OVERHEARD ON THE RADIO SAYING 'I CAN'T CONTROL IT . . . WE'RE GOING IN.' WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED WHILE IN A COUNTER CLOCKWISE FLAT SPIN BEFORE IT CRASHED. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE PILOT'S ONLY KNOWN AEROBATIC FLIGHT EXPERIENCE OCCURRED ON A DAY ABOUT THREE WEEKS EARLIER, IN WHICH HE WAS SHOWN LOOPS AND BARREL ROLLS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE HANDLING OF AIRCRAFT DURING AEROBATIC MANEUVER WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN OPERATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/3/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1558
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SOMERVILLE
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 22739
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1964
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 3 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46704
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:54PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1RX
NTSB Number BFO92FA051
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SAM R. CROWELL
Aircraft Model SH-2R
Aircraft Series Identifier SH-2R
Aircraft Serial Number 222
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 16 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 86
Airframe Hours 185
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HARRISON REALTY DEVELOPMENT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6869 SPRINGFIELD BLVD.
Aircraft Owner City SPRINGFIELD
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 22150
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HARRISON REALTY DEVELOPMENT
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 6869 SPRINGFIELD BLVD.
Operator City SPRINFIELD
Operator State VA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 22150
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code W66
Departure City WARRENTON/FAUQU
Departure State VA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1545
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code W66
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --