# Accident 19970118047139A: Socata TB20TRINIDAD, State College, PA, January 18, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 18, 1997, 17:40 local time
- Place: State College, PA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.8004° N, 77.8600° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8004&lon=-77.8600&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2803A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2803A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Socata TB-20 TRINIDAD (registry code 8680695, https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tb-20-trinidad) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SOCATA TB20TRINIDAD
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD97LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA044) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970118047139A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-16) THIS ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A DAMAGED CONTROL LEVER(S) ATTACHED TO THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF BENDING TO THIS PART IS STILL UNDERTERMINED. THE MOST LIKELY CAUSE SEEMS TO BE STRONG/GUSTY WINDS OR JET/PROP BLAST STRIKING THE TAIL ASSEMBLY FROM THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE CONTROL YOKE GUST LOCK WAS FUNCTIONAL AND UTILIZED. ALL FORCES SEEMED TO BE FOCUSED IN THE AREA OF THE LEVER ASSEMBLY. SUSPECT OVERLOAD FAILURE CAUSED BY FLUTTERING OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AGAINST THE CONTROL LINKAGE. I BELIEVE THAT A RESONANT FREQUENCY MAY HAVE ALLOWED THE PART(S) TO FLEX OUTWARD AND OVERCOME ORIGINAL DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS. RECOMMEND FURTHER ENGINEERING STUDY TO DETERMINE THE AIRWORTHINESS AND ADEQUACY OF THE LEVER ASSEMBLY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB IAD97LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA044), Jan 18, 1997: Aerospatiale TB-20 (N2803A), University Park, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inability to control the airplane due to a damaged/bent elevator control lever and resultant lack of elevator authority.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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