Shewmaker BD5 N68DS

Summary

On 3 May 1992 at about 01:15 local time, a Shewmaker BD5 registered N68DS, operated by Shewmaker, Darryl D., was involved in an accident near Castroville, Texas, United States. One person was on board and 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

3 May 1992 at 01:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Castroville, Texas, United States

Coordinates

29.3401, -98.8696

Aircraft

Shewmaker BD5

Registration

N68DS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Shewmaker, Darryl D.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW92LA125

1 person was seriously injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING THE FLARE. FACTORS WERE THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE PROPELLER FEATHERING SYSTEM AND THE PILOT'S TOTAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN TYPE AIRCRAFT AND THE SLIPPED PROPELLER PITCH CHANGE SYSTEM.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A HIGH SPEED TAXI TEST WHEN THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE. A NORMAL CLIMB WAS MADE TO APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FEET AGL. THE PILOT MADE SEVERAL LEFT TURNS WHILE IN LEVEL FLIGHT AND PROCEEDED BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT. DURING THE APPROACH, THE PROPELLER SYSTEM'S VARIABLE CONTROL MECHANISM SLIPPED WHICH ALLOWED THE PROPELLER TO GO TO THE FULL FEATHER POSITION. THE AIRPLANE'S AIRSPEED WAS BETWEEN 160 TO 180 MPH WHEN THIS OCCURRED, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT. THE AIRSPEED THEN DROPPED TO APPROXIMATELY 100 MPH AND THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE FLARE PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT ADDED POWER AND THE AIRPLANE YAWED. THE LEFT WING TIP STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHICH THEN IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT STATED THE PROPELLER CONTROL SYSTEM PROBABLY VIBRATED LOOSE DURING THE FLIGHT. THIS SYSTEM IS CONTROLLED BY THE PILOT FROM THE COCKPIT WITH A VERNIER KNOB. THE PILOT BUILT THE AIRPLANE AND HAD NOT FLOWN IT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.