Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Team Rocket F1, N230BW: Accident occurred December 24, 2019 at Hampton Roads Executive Airport (KPVG), Norfolk, Virginia

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Richmond, Virginia


Location: Suffolk, VA 
Accident Number: ERA20LA080
Date & Time: December 24, 2019, 14:15 Local
Registration: N230BW
Aircraft: TEAM ROCKET F-1 F-1
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On December 24, 2019, about 1415 eastern standard time, an experimental, amateur-built F-1 Rocket, N230BW, was substantially damaged while maneuvering near Suffolk, Virginia. The airline transport pilot (ATP) and a private pilot were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the ATP pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations as a Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed Suffolk Executive Airport (SFQ) Suffolk, Virginia about 1345.

The ATP pilot was operating the airplane from the front seat; he reported that after they performed several touch and go landings at SFQ, they flew southeast of the airport for light, "gentleman's aerobatics." They conducted several aileron rolls, barrel rolls, and wing overs at airspeeds between 150 and 180 knots, and no more than 3 G's which was below the airplane limit of 6 G's. Additionally, he
stated that momentary speeds of 225 knots were witnessed during two nose-high pulls into wing overs. At the conclusion of the sequence, the private pilot in the rear seat executed two aileron rolls, followed by a barrel roll. The maneuver was entered about 3,000 ft mean sea level (msl) at 165 knots and the airplane climbed to about 4,000 ft msl. The rear seated pilot initiated a 25° nose down pitch and as the airspeed increased above 180 knots, he pulled back on the stick to recover from the descent. During the recovery, a loud noise was heard, and a buffet was felt. All engine parameters appeared normal, but a "flutter" was felt in the airframe. About 5 seconds later, the airplane experienced a negative G nose over and both pilots hit their heads on the canopy.

The front seat pilot took control of the airplane, reduced engine power to idle, and recovered. Pitch authority was difficult to maintain during the flight to Virginia Hampton Roads Executive Airport (PVG), Norfolk, Virginia. During the first landing attempt, the airplane bounced several times. The pilot initiated a go-around and attempted another landing which was successful.

The airplane was equipped with a Dynon Avionics (D-180) multi-function display unit, which was recovered and downloaded. Review of preliminary flight data revealed that during the maneuver which preceded the structural failure, the airplane was flying about 3,000 ft msl at a negative 25° pitch that progressed to a negative 38° pitch at 1,800 ft msl while descending about 11,000 feet per minute (fpm). The airspeed increased from 230 to 244 knots, exceeding Vne (never exceed speed) of 240 knots. The recorded G range during this period was -2.31 to +3.68. The pilot recovered at 455 ft msl and initiated a positive rate of climb. About 5 seconds after initiation of the climb, there was a momentary pitch down and subsequent negative G indication of -0.125, before the climb was reestablished.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the right horizontal stabilizer separated from the airplane and the right elevator remained attached but was bent downward. The left horizonal stabilizer and elevator remained attached, but were bent downward. There were buckles near the elevator spar connections and several tears in the spar.

The front seat pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land and multi-engine land instrument airplane. In addition, he held a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, airplane multi-engine land, and instrument airplane. He was issued an FAA first class-class medical certificate on March 19, 2019. He reported 2,738 hours total flight time, of which 4 hours were in the accident airplane make and model.

The rear seat pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. He was operating under Basic Med and reported 45 hours total flight time.

According to FAA records, the airplane was issued an experimental amateur-built airworthiness certificate on December 12, 2009. It was a tandem, two-place, internally braced low-wing airplane, that was equipped with tailwheel landing gear, and a Lycoming IO-540, 250-horsepower engine driving a three-blade MT constant speed propeller. The airplane and engine had accumulated 407 hours total time
and 6 hours since its most recent annual inspection on November 2, 2019.

The reported weather conditions at PVG, about 10-miles north of the accident location, at 1356 included wind from 060° at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots, visibility 10 statute miles and clear, temperature 11° C, dew point 03° C, and an altimeter setting of 30.04 inches of mercury.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: TEAM ROCKET F-1
Registration: N230BW
Model/Series: F-1 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: Yes
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PVG,28 ft msl
Observation Time: 13:56 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 10 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 11°C /3°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 10 knots / 18 knots, 60°
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.04 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Suffolk, VA (SFQ)
Destination: Norfolk, VA (PVG)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 36.649723,-76.512496

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