Talago THUNDERGULL JT2 N73ST
4 April 1994 · Clarksburg, West Virginia, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 4 April 1994 at about 14:40 local time, a Talago THUNDERGULL JT2 registered N73ST, operated by Stanley Talago, was involved in an accident near Clarksburg, West Virginia, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 14:40
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Clarksburg, West Virginia, United States
- Nearest airport
- Clarksburg/Benedum (CKB)
- Coordinates
- 39.2792, -80.3301
- Aircraft
- Talago THUNDERGULL JT2
- Registration
- N73ST
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Stanley Talago
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- BFO94LA060
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The builder's inadequate maintenance adjustment which resulted in the aileron control assembly becoming disconnected.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRPLANE HAD JUST TAKEN OFF AND WAS IN ITS INITIAL CLIMB WHEN CONTROL WAS LOST. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. THE PILOT STATED, 'AFTER A GOOD PRE-FLIGHT THE TOWER CLEARED ME TO DEPART...IMMEDIATELY ON LIFT OFF, THE AIRCRAFT JUMPED TO THE RIGHT. THERE WAS DEFINITELY A CONTROL PROBLEM BUT I HAVE NOT PINPOINTED WHERE.' THE FAA INSPECTOR'S POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE BOLT CONNECTING THE TWO RODS IN THE AILERON PUSH/PULL ROD ASSEMBLY WAS MISSING. THE BOLT HOLES IN BOTH RODS SHOWED NO DEFORMATION. ADDITIONALLY, THIS BOLT WAS CONNECTED WITH THE JAM NUT FOUND LOOSE DURING THE CONFORMITY INSPECTION. THE AIRPLANE HAD A TOTAL OF 4 HOURS. A CONFORMITY INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED BY AN FAA DESIGNATED AIRWORTHINESS REPRESENTATIVE (DAR) ON NOVEMBER 29, 1993. THE DAR'S CONFORMITY INSPECTION REPORT STATED 'JAM NUT LOOSE ON AILERON CONTROL IN OVERHEAD.' THE REPORT REVEALED THAT THE CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN WAS THAT THE BOLT WAS 'TIGHTENED.' THE KIT MANUFACTURER SPECIFIES THE USE OF A SELF LOCKING NUT, HOWEVER, THE PILOT USED A JAM NUT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-28R-201T | Lockwood, West Virginia, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Jun 1994 | Beechcraft 58TC | St Marys, West Virginia, United States | Phoenix Aviation | Fatal | 3 |
| 7 Apr 1994 | Cessna 172N | Clarksburg, West Virginia, United States | Southern Ohio Aviation, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 21 Dec 1994 | Cessna 150H | Wheeling, West Virginia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Aug 1994 | Cessna 210N | Martinsburg, West Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 30 Aug 1994 | Cessna 140 | Ravenswood, West Virginia, United States | Jackson, Warren | Serious injuries | - |