Beam-Walter RS-15 N29WB

Summary

On 27 August 2010 at about 17:55 local time, a Beam-Walter RS-15 registered N29WB was involved in an accident near Windsor, Virginia, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 August 2010 at 17:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Windsor, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Garner Airport (3VA8)

Coordinates

36.8561, -76.6819

Aircraft

Beam-Walter RS-15

Registration

N29WB

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

External Load

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Windsor → Windsor

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10CA477

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadequate installation and preflight inspection of the right rudervator assembly, which resulted in a loss control during takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot/co-owner of the experimental amateur-built glider, he assembled the glider prior to takeoff, which required that the left and right ruddervators be placed in the flight position and secured with a spring-loaded pin, inserted through three holes. The pilot stated that he visually checked that the pin was properly installed, and physically shook the ruddervators prior to takeoff. The glider was being towed for takeoff, and was approximately 6 to 10 feet above the ground, when the right ruddervator rotated toward the left ruddervator. The pilot was not able to control the glider, and disconnected from the tow plane. The glider subsequently impacted the ground and sustained substantial damage to the fiberglass fuselage. Postaccident examination of the glider by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any malfunctions of the ruddervator locking mechanism. The pin required about 25 pounds of force to move, and made a snapping noise when released. The inspector noted that the snapping noise was associated with the pin inserting through all three holes; however, further inspection revealed that the pin had only gone through two of the three holes.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.