“MultiColor” (previous Big Orange and the Pink Panther) went down while doing deep stall testing. Featured in Sport Aviation in September 1988, September 1991 , and July 1993.

The experimental amateur-built acft was on a test flt at 10,000 ft to perform some maneuvers with the cg at the most rearward limits. The acft was placed into an ‘aggravated stall’ during which the acft entered a ‘deep stall’. all conventional & unconventional means of regaining control of the acft, including the plt climbing out of the cockpit & leaning as far fwd as possible, failed to recover control of the acft. At one point, the plt considered bailing out, but changed his mind due to the zero bank, zero fwd speed, zero yaw & slow descent toward the ocean. After the hard vertical impact, the plt released his harness & stepped into the water. The acft was recovered & an exam revealed that the canard gap seals which had been installed to enhance pitch authority of the canard on the prev flt, were still in place due to an oversight. With the gap seals installed, the canard pitch authority exceeded the authority of the wing.

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