Silvaire 8F N3550G

Summary

On 29 January 1989 at about 01:15 local time, a Silvaire 8F registered N3550G, operated by Steven M. Grant, was involved in an accident near Lake Elsinore, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 January 1989 at 01:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Lake Elsinore, California, United States

Nearest airport

Skylark (CL47)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Silvaire 8F

Registration

N3550G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Steven M. Grant

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lake Elsinore → Corona

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX89FA099

1 person died.

LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO IMPROPER AND/OR UNAPPROVED MODIFICATIONS TO THE AIRCRAFT'S AILERON CONTROL SYSTEM BY THE PILOT/OWNER. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PILOT/OWNER'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY TO MODIFY THE AILERON CONTROL SYSTEM WITHOUT APPROVAL BY THE MANUFACTURER OR THE FAA.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF, AT 300-400 FT AGL, THE ACFT SUDDENLY ROLLED INTO A 90 DEG BANK TO THE RIGHT AND SPUN TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT/OWNER HAD PERFORMED MODIFICATIONS TO THE AILERON CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH WERE CONTRARY TO THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS AND WITHOUT FAA APPROVAL. ANOTHER LUSCOMBE PILOT/OWNER HAD PERFORMED THE SAME MODIFICATION OF THE AILERON'S RIGGING TO HIS OWN ACFT WHICH RESULTED IN THE ACFT'S ROLL BECOMING UNSTABLE WHEN BANKING OVER 30 DEG. HE INFORMED THE ACCIDENT PILOT THAT THE AILERON RIGGING MODIFICATION HAD PROVED UNSATISFACTORY. ANOTHER MODIFICATION WAS THE REMOVAL OF FAIRLEADS WHICH WERE ORIGINALLY LOCATED IN THE AREA OF THE DOOR POSTS AND REPLACED WITH METAL PULLEYS. THE PILOT HAD BEEN DIABETIC FOR OVER 20 YEARS; NO MENTION OF THIS ON THE PILOT'S MEDICAL APPLICATIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.