Grumman C1A pilot loses display bomb and shackle off an aircraft shortly after takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	343290
Time
Date	199608
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : il19
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lns
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Grumman Corp Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 2400 flight time type : 1
ASRS Report	343290
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I had just purchased the aircraft. I performed numerous inspections and preflts. The display bombs and shackles appeared to be securely fastened to the aircraft. Upon arrival at our destination I noticed that bomb and shackle had departed the aircraft. In the future, I feel that the shackles and/or bombs should be safety wired or pinned to the aircraft. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states that the display bombs were safety wired to the shackles, but the lock nuts on the shackles had been loosened which allowed them to back off in flight and drop the entire unit shortly after departure. It was found the next day next to a road in a rural area. No injuries. The aircraft was a grumman C1A, an ex-navy aircraft which reporter will use in air shows. The FAA came by to see what happened and were very impressed with reporter's operation. No further action. Reporter collects aircraft and has full time a&P and a very clean operation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GRUMMAN C1A PLT LOSES DISPLAY BOMB AND SHACKLE OFF AN ACFT SHORTLY AFTER TKOF.

Narrative: I HAD JUST PURCHASED THE ACFT. I PERFORMED NUMEROUS INSPECTIONS AND PREFLTS. THE DISPLAY BOMBS AND SHACKLES APPEARED TO BE SECURELY FASTENED TO THE ACFT. UPON ARR AT OUR DEST I NOTICED THAT BOMB AND SHACKLE HAD DEPARTED THE ACFT. IN THE FUTURE, I FEEL THAT THE SHACKLES AND/OR BOMBS SHOULD BE SAFETY WIRED OR PINNED TO THE ACFT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THAT THE DISPLAY BOMBS WERE SAFETY WIRED TO THE SHACKLES, BUT THE LOCK NUTS ON THE SHACKLES HAD BEEN LOOSENED WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO BACK OFF IN FLT AND DROP THE ENTIRE UNIT SHORTLY AFTER DEP. IT WAS FOUND THE NEXT DAY NEXT TO A ROAD IN A RURAL AREA. NO INJURIES. THE ACFT WAS A GRUMMAN C1A, AN EX-NAVY ACFT WHICH RPTR WILL USE IN AIR SHOWS. THE FAA CAME BY TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND WERE VERY IMPRESSED WITH RPTR'S OP. NO FURTHER ACTION. RPTR COLLECTS ACFT AND HAS FULL TIME A&P AND A VERY CLEAN OP.

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.