Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Andover, Massachusetts
Friday, July 9, 1982 12:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING FLT THE PLT FELT SOMETHING SNAP OR BREAK ON THE ACFT. THE CONTROL WHEEL MOVEMENT FOR THE AILERON BECAME EXCEEDINGLY HARDER TO MOVE & THE ACFT STARTED TO FLUTTER IN AN UP & DOWN MOTION. HE REDUCED POWER TO SLOW THE FLUTTERINGACTION, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE ON A GOLF COURSE & THE ACFT ROLLED INTO A SAND TRAP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE UPPER LEFT LONGERON LOCATED NEAR THE REAR PLT'S SEAT WAS BROKEN & THE TUBING SPLIT. IT HAD FAILED JUST BEHIND THE REAR SEAT AT THE TUBING CLUSTER WELD. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE REAR EDGE OF THE CLUSTER WELD IN THE AREA WHICH SHOWED THE MOST HEAT PENETRATION OF THE BASE METAL THEN PROGRESSING AROUND THE TUBE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/9/1982
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ANDOVER
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 7
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
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 Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 16
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 80
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
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 None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2243
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
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 N2343
NTSB Number NYC82FNA19
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 BREEZY
Aircraft Model RL4-1
Aircraft Series Identifier RL4-1
Aircraft Serial Number 83532
Certified Max Gross Weight 900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 48
Airframe Hours 653
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FRANK VOGT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 115 LAFAYETTE ROAD
Aircraft Owner City NORTH HAMPTON
Aircraft Owner State NH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 03862
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FRANK VOGT
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 115 LAFAYETTE ROAD
Operator City NORTH HAMPTON
Operator State NH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 03862
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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
Departure City TEWKSBURY
Departure State MA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City NORTH HAMPTON
Destination State NH
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
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 --