CHESAPEAKE, VA, USA
N339RH
HALSTEAD SANDPIPER
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE MAIDEN TEST FLIGHT OF THE RECENTLY CERTIFICATED HOMEBUILT ACFT. THE PLT/BUILDER REPORTED NO PROBLEMS DURING HIGH SPEED TAXI RUNS. AFTER TAKEOFF THE PLT ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS AT SLOW SPEEDS WHICH DECREASED AS AIRSPEED INCREASED. DURING LANDING, THE ACFT STALLED HIGH AND BOUNCED TWICE ON THE RWY. THE PLT INITIATED A GO-AROUND AND DURING CLIMB OUT WAS UNABLE TO DECREASE PITCH TO GAIN AIRSPEED. THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREES NEAR THE RWY. THE PLT DESIGNED AND BUILT THE ACFT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DAVIS MIXING UNIT WHICH CONTROLS PITCH AND RUDDER INPUT TO THE RUDDERVADOR. THE DESIGN PLANS CALLED FOR 9 DEGS PITCH UP TRAVEL AND 8 DEGS PITCH DOWN TRAVEL. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE RUDDERVADOR HAD BEEN INSTALLED WITH 12.5 DEGS NOSE UP TRAVEL AND 4.5 DEGS NOSE DOWN TRAVEL, THUS LIMITING THE PLTS ABILITY TO LOWER THE NOSE DURING CLIMB.
THE PILOT/BUILDERS IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE RUDDERVADOR AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE FAILURE OF THE FAA TO DETECT THE FLAW DURING THE CERTIFICATION OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
