On January 25th a REMOS GX Aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff during the LSA Expo at Sebring, Florida. There was one fatality and the pilot was injured seriously.
Todd Gunther, NTSB Investigator in Charge, has released a Preliminary Report on the accident, in which Gunther reported that he established control continuity to the rudder, elevator and right wing, but “control continuity could not be established to the left aileron.”
The left wing had been folded the night before the flight and was extended just prior to takeoff. It appears that the left aileron quick fastener was not secured, the report disclosed.
Following the initial investigation, REMOS Aircraft issued a Mandatory Safety Directive on January 31st, titled “Inspection of Quick Fasteners on Control System.” The document, distributed to all REMOS owners, contains illustrated directions for the proper method of securing the aileron controls when extending the wings. It provides replacement pages for the Pilot Operating Handbook, using bold-face type for sections concerning the checking of control continuity.
It also provides additional placards to be placed on the instrument panel, the port and starboard sides of the cabin, and on the tail cone. The placards prompt additional pre-flight checks for control quick fasteners.
“We have issued this mandatory safety directive to assure that all pre-flight procedures are followed with precision,” said Corvin Huber, CEO of REMOS Aircraft. “We are in the process of making a safe airplane even safer.”
For information: www.remos.com, www.remos.com/en/pix/download/SD-004-quick-fasteners.pdf
I wonder how many lives could have been saved if everyone did a “free and clear” check of aerodynamic controls “EVERY” time before pushing the throttle forward ?
I personally know of several.
It’s sad.