Sukhoi SU-29 N729SU
21 March 1996 · New Orleans, Louisiana, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 21 March 1996 at about 23:41 local time, a Sukhoi SU-29 registered N729SU was involved in an accident near New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 23:41
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Sukhoi SU-29
- Registration
- N729SU
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW96FA151
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The in-flight loss of a bolt in the elevator control system due to improper installation by unknown person(s), which resulted in a disconnection of the elevator control system that rendered the airplane uncontrollable.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
Radar data indicated the airplane was maneuvering in a manner consistent with the performance of aerobatics prior to entering an uncontrolled descent during which it reached a speed of over 220 knots. Evidence indicated that, prior to impact, the pilot jettisoned the canopy, released his restraining harness, and deployed his emergency parachute. All of the suspension lines attaching the parachute canopy to the harness separated. The manufacturer recommended that the parachute not be deployed at speeds greater than 140 knots; however, this limit was not marked, nor was it required to be marked, on the parachute. Examination of the airplane's elevator control system revealed evidence that a bolt attaching a control tube to a bellcrank migrated out during the flight. The bolt should have been secured with a castellated nut and a cotter pin. The control tube end, bolt, castellated nut, and cotter pin were not recovered from the accident site. It could not be determined whether the bolt was improperly installed when the airplane was manufactured or had subsequently been removed and reinstalled incorrectly.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Sukhoi SU-29 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Oct 1997 | Sukhoi SU-29 | Williamstown, New Jersey, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 May 1998 | Sukhoi SU-29 | Manassas, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 1 Sep 1999 | Sukhoi SU-29 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 14 May 1993 | Sukhoi SU-29 | Fountain, Colorado, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 14 Aug 2000 | Sukhoi SU-29 | Longmont, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Oct 2004 | Sukhoi SU-29 | Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jan 1996 | Cessna 150M | Mandeville, Louisiana, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 16 Jan 1996 | Cessna 182K | Covington, Louisiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Jan 1996 | Cessna A185F | Belle Chase, Louisiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Oct 1996 | MBB BO-105 CBS-4 | Cameron, Louisiana, United States | ERA, Gulf Coast Division | Fatal | 1 |
| 17 Feb 1996 | Cessna 182P | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Feb 1996 | Cessna 172P | Iowa, Louisiana, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |