MX Aircraft MXS | N530RH

DTSB: Pending. Preliminary NTSB report states that the accident aircraft owner installed elevator feel counter weight threaded aluminum plugs, designed to hold the lead based counter weights in place. The aluminum screw type plugs were installed on the inboard section of each elevator and without any safety wire, cotter key, or restraining clip. At some point during the accident sequence the elevator did become bound by the aluminum retention plug on the left elevator, likely binding the elevator movement, and preventing a landing flare. The accident flight was observed to porpoise twice then rotate to nearly vertical. The cockpit control stick likely was moved aggressively aft with significant force, and did eventually cause the plug to break free, causing the aircraft nose to pitch up, and the counter weight plug to fall free from the accident aircraft. It is likely that the aircraft then stalled and reversed course in a stall spin condition, rotating almost 300 degrees counter clockwise from runway heading. One propeller blade remained attached to the hub at the crash site and was remarkably undamaged, possibly indicating slow or no propeller rotation at impact. All fuel cells were found to be not breached, but dry, except for the main header tank which was both breached and empty. The aircraft had been modified to hold almost 100 gallons of fuel for cross country transport purposes. There was no post accident fire.

NTSB: NONE

DTSB: Pending.

NTSB: NONE