Event FTW93LA124

Factual narrative

On April 11, 1993, at 1019 mountain daylight time (MDT) a Violet Dragonfly, N48RV, was substantially damaged during landing at the Cavern City Air Terminal, Carlsbad, New Mexico. Weather for the local area flight was visual meteorological conditions. The private pilot was not injured. Bob W. Violet was the registered owner. During an interview with the pilot, conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, he reported that during landing he touched down hard and bounced and during the recovery he applied aft stick. As he was applying the aft stick the pistol grip separated from the stick and he lost control of the airplane. The FAA inspector examined the stick and determined that there was no retention device designed into the stick assembly or the pistol grip to provide for security and prevention of separation. Discussions with the airplane designer revealed that the stick assembly was designed with a retaining fastener. During the interview with the pilot he reported that he had removed the stick so that he could install a push to talk switch for his newly installed radio. During the reinstallation he noted that the stick was loose so he wrapped it in heavy tape. He further stated that when he removed the stick assembly that it was a tight fit, but that no retaining device was installed. The present owner purchased the airplane from another owner and not direct from the manufacturer. DURING LANDING THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND THE PILOT APPLIED AFT PRESSURE ON THE CONTROL STICK ASSEMBLY. WITH THE AFT PRESSURE APPLIED THE CONTROL STICK ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM ITS NORMAL MOUNTING POSITION AND THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHICH IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. THE CONTROL STICK AND PISTOL GRIP WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH A RETENTION LOCKING DEVICE. THE PILOT HAD RECENTLY REMOVED THE STICK IN ORDER TO INSTALL A PUSH TO TALK SWITCH FOR HIS RADIO. WHEN HE REINSTALLED THE STICK HE NOTED THAT IT WAS LOOSE, SO HE WRAPPED IT WITH HEAVY TAPE IN AN EFFORT TO SECURE IT Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12