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Pilot of an experimental aircraft which he had built, experienced a pronounced aft center of gravity control problem during the second flight of the aircraft resulting in making a precautionary off airport landing.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 336442 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199605 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : uca |
| State Reference | NY |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 6000 agl bound upper : 6000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Experimental |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 2 flight time total : 135 flight time type : 2 |
| ASRS Report | 336442 |
| Person 2 | |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 2 flight time total : 135 flight time type : 2 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
I was conducting the second flight of my recently completed challenger ii experimental aircraft. I departed sbound from my backyard airstrip. About 1 mi out I turned 180 degrees and headed north. The controls felt mushy and even though I indicated 60 mph at 6000 RPM's the plane acted as if it wanted to stall. Suddenly, I started oscillating left and right and I started an accellerated stall. I lowered the nose and recovered but I decided to set it down in the field next to mine rather than taking a chance by continuing on. I had some minor damage due to shrubs and soft ground and it was not possible to take off from that field. The next day I removed the wings and brought the plane home. I think my situation was caused by the plane not being completely trimmed properly, my lack of experience in pusher type aircraft, and maybe a slightly tail heavy condition.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF AN EXPERIMENTAL ACFT WHICH HE HAD BUILT, EXPERIENCED A PRONOUNCED AFT CTR OF GRAVITY CTL PROB DURING THE SECOND FLT OF THE ACFT RESULTING IN MAKING A PRECAUTIONARY OFF ARPT LNDG.
Narrative: I WAS CONDUCTING THE SECOND FLT OF MY RECENTLY COMPLETED CHALLENGER II EXPERIMENTAL ACFT. I DEPARTED SBOUND FROM MY BACKYARD AIRSTRIP. ABOUT 1 MI OUT I TURNED 180 DEGS AND HEADED N. THE CTLS FELT MUSHY AND EVEN THOUGH I INDICATED 60 MPH AT 6000 RPM'S THE PLANE ACTED AS IF IT WANTED TO STALL. SUDDENLY, I STARTED OSCILLATING L AND R AND I STARTED AN ACCELLERATED STALL. I LOWERED THE NOSE AND RECOVERED BUT I DECIDED TO SET IT DOWN IN THE FIELD NEXT TO MINE RATHER THAN TAKING A CHANCE BY CONTINUING ON. I HAD SOME MINOR DAMAGE DUE TO SHRUBS AND SOFT GND AND IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO TAKE OFF FROM THAT FIELD. THE NEXT DAY I REMOVED THE WINGS AND BROUGHT THE PLANE HOME. I THINK MY SIT WAS CAUSED BY THE PLANE NOT BEING COMPLETELY TRIMMED PROPERLY, MY LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN PUSHER TYPE ACFT, AND MAYBE A SLIGHTLY TAIL HVY CONDITION.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.