P-51D crash that killed ex president of Sikorsky could have been avoided

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has published its investigation into the crash of a P-51D warbird in February 2016.

By Cory W. Watts from Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America (“Big Beautiful Doll”) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

The crash had killed the former president of Sikorsky, Jeffrey Pino, and his friend.

Based on eye witnesses reports and local airport radar data, investigators found that the plane was making a loop before it plunged into the ground.

The aircraft handbook forbid the maneuver if the weight in the fuselage tank exceeds 150 lbs. The fuselage tank was modified to become a second seat and the person sitting there had weight more than 150 lbs. Pushing the aircraft into such a condition could create a “tail heavy” scenario.

A final is expected to be out within the next two months.