Moore Edward R MXS N21MX

Summary

On 8 September 2012 at about 19:35 local time, a Moore Edward R MXS registered N21MX, operated by Moore Edward R, was involved in an accident near Borrego Springs, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 September 2012 at 19:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Borrego Springs, California, United States

Nearest airport

Borrego Valley Airport (L08)

Coordinates

33.2606, -116.3244

Aircraft

Moore Edward R MXS

Registration

N21MX

Category

Airplane

Year built

2009

Engines

1

Operator

Moore Edward R

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Borrego Springs → Borrego Springs

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12LA407

1 person died.

The pilot’s inability to maintain control of the airplane following the loss of aileron and elevator control due to the forward flight control torque tube assembly’s detachment from the forward bearing. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate construction of the forward bulkhead that held the flight control torque tube assembly in place and the improper installation of the thrust bearings.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the aerobatic practice flight, the airplane departed controlled flight. The pilot opened the canopy, which then separated from the airplane, and exited the airplane. Due to the low altitude, the pilot's parachute did not fully deploy before he impacted the ground. The accident airplane was 1 of 14 MX-model airplanes. It was the only model built from a kit as an experimental, amateur-built aircraft, and it was constructed differently than the other MX-model airplanes. Postaccident examination of the torque tube assembly revealed that the forward bulkhead holding the torque tube assembly in place was constructed in a way that allowed the bulkhead to flex, which subsequently led the torque tube assembly to detach from the forward bearing during the accident flight and resulted in the loss of aileron and elevator control. Examination also revealed that the forward and aft bearing houses were installed opposite of the correct direction, which allowed the bearings to detach from the torque tube assembly when the front bulkhead flexed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.