Davis LG2H N128RD

Summary

On 23 June 2003 at about 14:10 local time, a Davis LG2H registered N128RD was involved in an accident near Salome, Arizona, 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.

Date

23 June 2003 at 14:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Salome, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Western Sky Airport (0AZ2)

Coordinates

33.7781, -113.6417

Aircraft

Davis LG2H

Registration

N128RD

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Salome → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX03LA209

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's excessive use of the controls during an aborted takeoff, and his failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in a stall/mush. Factors in the accident include the pilot's lack of familiarity with the airplane and an excessively rich mixture setting due to the lack of a mixture control on this engine installation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Upon the pilot taking off in an unfamiliar airplane, the engine stuttered. The pilot aborted the takeoff. According to the owner of the airplane who witnessed the accident, it sounded as though the throttle had been "chopped." The airplane suddenly pitched up, climbed 30 feet, and then dropped 30 feet, breaking off the nose landing gear assembly. After the first impact, the engine regained power. The plane flew erratically for 1/2 the runway length approximately 30 feet above the runway. No stutter was heard after the airplane became airborne again. Instead, it sounded as though the engine was being throttled up and down. The airplane looked to be out of control and struck the ground, coming to rest in a ditch. Post accident inspection revealed the two spark plugs from the rear cylinders were "dark and sooty." Flight control continuity was established.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.