Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cayucos, California 93430
Friday, January 25, 1991 12:45 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT IN AN EXPERIMENTAL HOME BUILT AIRPLANE, THE PRIVATE PILOT FELT A VIBRATION IN THE CONTROL STICK. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A AREA OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, MISJUDGED THE LANDING APPROACH TO A FIELD AND COLLIDED WITH A HILL. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DISCLOSED THAT THE TRIM TAB ADJUSTING ROD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TRIM TAB, ALLOWING THE TAB TO VIBRATE IN THE SLIPSTREAM.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AND HIS MISJUDGMENT OF THE PROPER TOUCH DOWN POINT FOLLOWING THE PILOT'S DECISION TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN IN-FLIGHT SEPARATION OF THE TRIM TAB ROD FROM THE TRIM TAB, PRODUCING AN UNUSUAL VIBRATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/25/1991
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1245
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City CAYUCOS
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93430
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 1
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 2800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 39
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43054
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2027C
NTSB Number LAX91LA099
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name WALTER CHANDLER
Aircraft Model PHOENIX
Aircraft Series Identifier PHOENIX
Aircraft Serial Number 31200H
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GREGORY C. O'KELLY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3860 S. HIGUGRA #119
Aircraft Owner City SAN LUIS OBISPO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93401
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 SBP
Departure City SAN LUIS OBISPO
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1220
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent - emergency
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --