Bushby MUSTANG II N7LP

Summary

On 3 July 1998 at about 22:30 local time, a Bushby MUSTANG II registered N7LP was involved in an accident near Livermore, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 July 1998 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Livermore, California, United States

Nearest airport

Livermore Muni (LVK)

Coordinates

37.6807, -121.7506

Aircraft

Bushby MUSTANG II

Registration

N7LP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX98LA220

1 person was seriously injured.

An inadequate inspection of the flight control system during the condition inspection by the check pilot/mechanic.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The purpose of the flight was to conduct a biennial flight review. No discrepancies were noted with the flight controls during the preflight inspection, the ensuing taxi to refuel the airplane, or during the run-up and takeoff roll. After takeoff, the pilot could not establish pitch control of the airplane, and was instructed to abort the takeoff. He shutdown the engine and turned off the fuel, master, and ignition switches in preparation for a hard landing. The airplane impacted the runway and ricocheted above the runway; the airplane then stalled and impacted the runway in a wings level attitude. The pilot stated that the push pull torque tube control quadrant was connected to the control yoke through a bellcrank with a bolt, which was housed underneath the fuel selector floorboards. Examination of this area revealed that the bolt was missing, and was not located during the ensuing search. The check pilot was also the mechanic who had conducted the last annual inspection on the airplane the day of the flight. He stated that he had completed a condition inspection of the airplane prior to the biennial flight review and did not recall removing or tightening any bolts in the flight control system area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.