The pilot in the experimental test airplane was conducting spin testing near Grover, Wyoming, in support of future type certification of the Aviat A-1C-200.
Prior to the accident, he had completed seven power-on test spins in which all spins exhibited no unusual or flat tendency.
During the accident flight, the test condition called for a spin from level flight, with flaps up, and aft center of gravity, heavy weight, to the left, with aileron opposite of the turn.
After one 360° rotation, the nose was much higher above the horizon than prior test conditions. The pilot applied corrective controls with no effect on any axis.
He was not able to recover the airplane from the induced spin. He jumped out of the plane at about 10,180 foot mean sea level and deployed his emergency parachute. During his descent he noted that the airplane was in a flat spin to ground impact.
The airplane hit the ground and sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot landed hard and sustained serious compression fractures in L1 and L2.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s inability to regain airplane control after a pilot-induced spin conducted during a flight test, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.
This August 2020 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
NTSB — gotta find pilot error. But since this is testing required by the FAA for certification, wouldn’t this be a *design flaw* of the aircraft that precluded the pilot being able to regain control?
And as Jim Macklin indicated, there should have been a chute that deployed to get this out of a flat spin, should that have happened (which it appears that is what did happen).
So this is not a pilot error that he got into a spin. This was required testing by the FAA.
I had a chance years ago to buy an Grumman American Yankee. The first page in the owners manual had in bold large letters: ‘Spins are Imminent’. I didn’t buy the airplane.
Aft spin tests deliberately reduce the moment arm and the CG. I s usually behind where it will be established when certified.
With power on the tendency is for the nose to rice creating a flat spin. A spin chute that will pull the tail up is usual. A chute to recover the ol An e does not pull the tail up.
Typical test starts with climb power. , spin entry by cross controls and a 5 second de l at before recovery begins. Recovery is power off, rudder to stop rotation and a brisk elevator to break the stall. Bailing out even with a ballistic recovery chute happens.
Some airp l An e enter a spin easily. Some like a BEECH Skipper require the pilot to deliberately make the plane spin..