Halstead SANDPIPER N339RH
17 March 1989 · Chesapeake, Virginia, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 17 March 1989 at about 16:02 local time, a Halstead SANDPIPER registered N339RH was involved in an accident near Chesapeake, Virginia, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:02
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Chesapeake, Virginia, United States
- Nearest airport
- Hampton Roads (PVG)
- Coordinates
- 36.7996, -76.4208
- Aircraft
- Halstead SANDPIPER
- Registration
- N339RH
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- BFO89DID01
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT/BUILDERS IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE RUDDERVADOR AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE FAILURE OF THE FAA TO DETECT THE FLAW DURING THE CERTIFICATION OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE MAIDEN TEST FLIGHT OF THE RECENTLY CERTIFICATED HOMEBUILT ACFT. THE PLT/BUILDER REPORTED NO PROBLEMS DURING HIGH SPEED TAXI RUNS. AFTER TAKEOFF THE PLT ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS AT SLOW SPEEDS WHICH DECREASED AS AIRSPEED INCREASED. DURING LANDING, THE ACFT STALLED HIGH AND BOUNCED TWICE ON THE RWY. THE PLT INITIATED A GO-AROUND AND DURING CLIMB OUT WAS UNABLE TO DECREASE PITCH TO GAIN AIRSPEED. THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREES NEAR THE RWY. THE PLT DESIGNED AND BUILT THE ACFT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DAVIS MIXING UNIT WHICH CONTROLS PITCH AND RUDDER INPUT TO THE RUDDERVADOR. THE DESIGN PLANS CALLED FOR 9 DEGS PITCH UP TRAVEL AND 8 DEGS PITCH DOWN TRAVEL. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE RUDDERVADOR HAD BEEN INSTALLED WITH 12.5 DEGS NOSE UP TRAVEL AND 4.5 DEGS NOSE DOWN TRAVEL, THUS LIMITING THE PLTS ABILITY TO LOWER THE NOSE DURING CLIMB.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1989 | Piper PA-28-180 | Ashland, Virginia, United States | A & S Flying Services | Fatal | 1 |
| 2 Sep 1989 | Rotorway EXEC | Palmyra, Virginia, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 3 Mar 1989 | Beechcraft V35TC | Roanoke, Virginia, United States | Ruffin K. Harris | Fatal | 1 |
| 11 Mar 1989 | Beechcraft A60 | Manassas, Virginia, United States | RTS Service Inc. | Fatal | 5 |
| 24 Mar 1989 | Learjet 25 | Roanoke, Virginia, United States | Flight International, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 7 Apr 1989 | Piper PA-32-260B | Richmond, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |