MARIETTA, GA, USA
N130MJ
FOOTE M1 MUSTANG
THE PILOT HAD PURCHASED THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT THE MORNING OF THE FLIGHT, AND WAS MAKING HIS FIRST FLIGHT IN THE AIRCRAFT. HE STATED THAT ON DOWNWIND DURING HIS SECOND LANDING, AS HE RELEASED THE THROTTLE TO LOWER THE FLAPS, THE THROTTLE MOVED FORWARD AND INCREASED THE ENGINE RPM. HE STATED THAT AFTER TOUCHDOWN, AS HE AGAIN RELEASED THE THROTTLE TO RAISE THE FLAPS, THE THROTTLE AGAIN MOVED FORWARD AND CAUSED HIM TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE SAID THAT DURING HIS ATTEMPT TO APPLY BRAKES, THE RUDDER PEDAL ASSEMBLY COLLAPSED, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO RUNNING OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY INTO A RAVINE. WITNESSES STATED THAT ON THE SECOND LANDING ATTEMPT, THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT TOUCH DOWN UNTIL ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE WITNESSES STATED THAT IT APPEARED THE AIRCRAFT SPEED WAS FASTER THAN NORMAL DURING THE LANDING.
On March 30, 1994, about 1720 eastern standard time, a Foote M-1 Mustang, N130MJ, was substantially damaged following a collision with terrain near Marietta, Georgia. The commercial pilot received serious injuries in the accident. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the local, personal flight. According to witnesses, the aircraft touched down well past mid-field of the runway. It appeared that the aircraft was travelling faster than normal at the time of the touchdown. The aircraft swerved several times on the runway and then ran off the end of the runway and down a 50 foot embankment. The pilot stated that he was flying the aircraft for the first time after having purchased the aircraft that morning. He had completed one successful touch and go landing and was attempting his second landing when the accident occurred. He stated that while on downwind for his second landing attempt, as he released the throttle to extend the flaps, the throttle moved forward and resulted in a gain of engine revolutions per minute (RPM). He continued the approach and landing. He stated that the landing was smooth, and that as he released the throttle to raise the flaps, the engine RPM advanced again. This caused a yaw in the aircraft to the left, and he could not retard the engine. He stated that during his attempt to apply brakes, the aircraft rudder pedals collapsed. Inspection of the aircraft did not reveal any improper installation of the rudder pedals or throttle cable assembly. The forward firewall was bent, causing the throttle cable to be jammed in such a manner as to not be able to retard the throttle past the mid point. The aircraft wreckage was released to Daniel L. Kendall of D.L.K. Aviation on April 1, 1994.
The failure of the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft. Factors in the accident were the lack of familiarization with the aircraft by the pilot, and throttle cable rigging in the experimental aircraft.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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