Advanced BUCCANEER SX B1B-503 UNREG
17 November 1991 · Palmer, Massachusetts, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 17 November 1991 at about 22:00 local time, a Advanced BUCCANEER SX B1B-503 registered UNREG, operated by Clifford W. Heaton, was involved in an accident near Palmer, Massachusetts, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Palmer, Massachusetts, United States
- Nearest airport
- Palmer Metro (PMX)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Advanced BUCCANEER SX B1B-503
- Registration
- UNREG
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Clifford W. Heaton
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Dusk
- NTSB number
- NYC92DNE01
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
A FAILED LOWER RUDDER ATTACH PIVOT BOLT WHICH RESULTED IN JAMMED FLIGHT CONTROLS AND AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT INTO TREES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT STARTED A TURN. HE HEARD SOMETHING LET GO AND THE RUDDER AND ELEVATOR JAMMED. HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE AIRPLANE AND MADE AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT INTO TREES. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THE LOWER RUDDER ATTACH PIVOT BOLT HAD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THE AIRPLANE WAS AN ULTRALIGHT OPERATING AS AN UNREGISTERED AIRPLANE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-23-250 | Templeton, Massachusetts, United States | Charles O'donnell | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1991 | Hiller UH-12B | Westfield, Massachusetts, United States | James T. Kilbridge | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jul 1991 | Beechcraft C-23 | Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States | David J. Stoddard | No injuries | - |
| 31 Aug 1991 | Mooney M20J | Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States | Thomas P. Heeney | Serious injuries | - |
| 12 Sep 1991 | Cessna 172M | Norwood, Massachusetts, United States | Executive Flyers Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 28 Sep 1991 | McDonnell Douglas MD-82 | East Boston, Massachusetts, United States | Continental Airlines Inc. | Serious injuries | - |