Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kenosha, Wisconsin 53140
Sunday, June 16, 1991 17:08 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AMATEUR BUILT AIRCRAFT WAS CONDUCTING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS WHEN IT DESCENDED INTO THE TERRAIN. A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME REVEALED THAT THE PITCH (ELEVATOR) CONTROL LINKAGE UNDER THE PILOT'S SEAT, AT THE BELLCRANK, WAS MISSING A BOLT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF AN INFLIGHT FAILURE IN THIS AREA AND BOTH THE TORQUE TUBE AND ROD END SHOWED NO INDICATION OF DAMAGE. THE BOLT WAS NOT LOCATED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, BY PERSON OR PERSONS UNKNOWN, TO THE ELEVATOR CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH ALLOWED A BOLT ATTACHING THE ELEVATOR CONTROL ROD TO THE PITCH BELLCRANK TO BECOME DISCONNECTED DURING FLIGHT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/16/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1708
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City KENOSHA
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53140
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 6
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 Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
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 Calm
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 727
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44697
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 N83AM
NTSB Number CHI91DEP08
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 JACK THOMAS
Aircraft Model PITTS S-IT
Aircraft Series Identifier PITTS S-IT
Aircraft Serial Number T-020TJ
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 9 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name D M CAR CO INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1314 JOHNSON DR. 1712
Aircraft Owner City BUFFALO GROVE
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60089
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DAVID CARGILL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1314 JOHNSON DR. 1712
Operator City BUFFALO GROVE
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 60089
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone CST
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
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 --