Lydick LONG-EZ N777CJ

Summary

On 18 December 1992 at about 00:35 local time, a Lydick LONG-EZ registered N777CJ, operated by Robert E. Anderson, was involved in an accident near Tucson, Arizona, 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

18 December 1992 at 00:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

32.1990, -110.9500

Aircraft

Lydick LONG-EZ

Registration

N777CJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Robert E. Anderson

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX93LA069

1 person died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED OR POWER SETTING SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN ENGINE ROTATION DURING THE LOW SPEED DEMONSTRATION. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO AFFECT AN ENGINE RESTART ONCE THE PROPELLER STOPPED TURNING.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE EXPERIMENTAL HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT WAS BEING DEMONSTRATED BY THE PILOT TO A POTENTIAL BUYER, WHO WAS A PASSENGER IN THE REAR TANDEM SEAT. THE ENGINE DID NOT HAVE AN ELECTRIC STARTER INSTALLED ON THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO THE PASSENGER, THE PILOT WAS DEMONSTRATING THE LOW SPEED HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AIRCRAFT AT AN ALTITUDE HE ESTIMATED AT ABOUT 3,000 FEET AGL. THE PILOT BROUGHT THE THROTTLE TO IDLE, AND, AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED, THE ENGINE CEASED TO RUN AND THE PROPELLER STOPPED TURNING. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO AFFECT AN AIRSTART OF THE ENGINE AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND WHILE THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD. DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES SECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT OWNERS MANUAL STATES THAT AN AIRSPEED OF 70 KNOTS OR MORE IS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN ENGINE ROTATION AT IDLE. THE MANUAL FURTHER STATES THAT THE ENGINE STOPS TURNING, A DIVE SPEED OF 130 KNOTS OR MORE IS REQUIRED TO REGAIN ENGINE ROTATION WITH AN ALTITUDE LOSS OF GREATER THAN 2,000 FEET.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.