Luhnau BD-5B accident near Boulder City, NV
On October 22, 1999, a Luhnau BD-5B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Boulder City, NV. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 22, 1999
- Place
- Boulder City, NV
- Aircraft
- Luhnau BD-5B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 35.989°N, 114.811°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X19996
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 22, 1999, about 1507 hours Pacific daylight time, an experimental Luhnau BD-5B, N62765, was substantially damaged when the amateur-built airplane descended at a steep angle and impacted terrain about 1 mile southwest of the Boulder City Municipal Airport, Boulder City, Nevada. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the post-maintenance test flight. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Boulder City about 1500. A witness reported observing the pilot takeoff from runway 09, climb to about 400 feet above ground level, turn right onto the crosswind leg, and then turn onto the downwind leg at the traffic pattern altitude. Thereafter, the witness heard the pilot announce his position in the traffic pattern. About 10 seconds later, while the airplane was maintaining a level flight cruise attitude, the airplane began descending, and it turned right toward the airport. The witness further reported that the rate of descent increased and the pilot broadcast "765 I've got a problem." The witness lost sight of the airplane while it was descending at what appeared to be a 30- to 40-degree nose down angle. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot was a retired airline captain. He had experience flying Boeing 727, 737, DC-8, DC-10, and B-747 airplanes. The pilot was not the builder of his experimental airplane. Also, he did not possess either a repairman or a Fede
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to secure an electrical wire terminal in the propeller pitch control circuit following a maintenance adjustment, which resulted in the propeller malfunctioning and going to a flat pitch. The flat pitch of the propeller produced a high drag which precluded the aircraft from maintaining flight.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
