• BuNo: 159418
• Location: NAS Cecil Field, Florida
• Date: Wed 11-Dec-1991
• Cause: Aircraft Mechanical Failure
• Findings: At approximately 1033 hours NAS Cecil Field, Florida, after completion of FCF, performed touch and go's, at 600 feet MSL and at 130 KIAS control stick moved uncommanded hard left and aircraft rolled off abruptly to the left. Pilot put in a hard right aileron roll command with no response, with pilot calling for ejection. Copilot initiated ejection at aircraft angle of bank between 45 to 60 degrees. Pilot estimated aircraft at 90 to 100 degree angle of bank when he ejected and copilot estimated ejection to be 120 degree angle of bank.
  Cause of mishap was intermittent short from VAST connectors, several frayed and melted polyamide wires. Flight Data Computer (FDC) ability to generate hardover signals provide new knowledge on S-3B flight control failure possibilities.
  Crew of 2 ejected safely.
  Source: JAG Investigation Report
  Comments from JAG Report: Crew landed in trees and were suspended by their parachutes.
  Recommend expeditious redesign and replacement of the S-3B's existing FDC, ASW 33, and polyamide wiring.
  Possibly the answers to all the uncontrollable roll mishaps?

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