ANDALUSIA, AL, USA
N1099X
PIPER PA-32-300
THE ACCIDENT FLT WAS TO BE THE LAST IN A SERIES OF FLT TESTS. THIS FLT WAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING THE LANDING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ACFT WITH A COMBINATION SPEED/STOL KIT INSTALLED. WHEN THE FAA FLT TEST PLT FAILED TO RETURN FROM THE MISSION A SEARCH WAS STARTED. THE ACFT HAD BEEN SEEN SPINNING BY 3 WITNESSES WHO ALSO SAW THE PLT JUMP FROM THE ACFT AT LOW ALT. THE PLT WORE A PARACHUTE BUT IT WAS NOT DEPLOYED AND HE WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE PLTS CLOTHING HAD OIL SPLATTERS WHICH CHEMICALLY TESTED THE SAME AS THE OIL USED FOR BALLAST IN THE ACFT. THERE WERE NO OIL CONTAINERSNEAR THE BODY WHICH WAS ABOUT 20 YDS FROM THE ACFT WRECKAGE. THE BALLAST WAS IMPROPERLY SECURED IN THE ACFT AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY FAA. THE FAA INSPECTOR DID NO EVALUATION OR INSTRUCTING ON THE CONDUCT OF THESE TESTS. THE OWNER SAID HE HAD PERFORMED THE SAME TESTS AS ATTEMPTED BUT THERE WERE NO RECORDS CONCERNING THESE TESTS. THE EXIT DOOR JETTISON FUNCTION REQUIRED 3 PROCEDURAL STEPS FOR EGRESS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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