# Accident 19970429011039A: Beech D35, Lexington, KY, April 29, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 29, 1997, 13:30 local time
- Place: Lexington, KY
- Airport: Blue Grass
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.0490° N, 84.4996° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0490&lon=-84.4996&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5985C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5985C-2017-05-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech D35 (registry code 1151510, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d35) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental E225 series (registry code 17015, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D35
- Reported engine: CONT E2258
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,000 total, 25 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97LA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA119) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970429011039A

## Narrative

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

TAIL FLUTTER ENROUTE. REDUCED POWER LANDED LEX. TO CHECK. TAIL INSPECTTION PLATED CAME LOOSE. TAIL SKIN LONERONS BENT. (-23) WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, OWNER/PILOT ENCOUNTERED OCCASIONAL LIGHT TURBULENCE. TWO OCCASIONS INITIATED SEVERE AIRFRAME VIBRATIONS, WHICH CEASED WHEN POWER AND SPEED WERE REDUCED. AIRCRAFT DIVERTED TO LEX WITH NORMAL LANDING AND NO INJURIES.  DAMAGE WAS FOUND IN AFT FUSELAGE, VICINITY OF STA 250 TO STA 272: CREASING AND WRINKLING OF SKIN, LOSS OF RETAINING SCREWS ON AN INSPECTION PLATE, DISTORTION OF STRINGERS, BENDING, DISTORTION AND CRACKS IN BULKHEADS AT STA 256.9 AND 272, AND SKIN ON LOWER SURFACE TORN LOOSE AT STA 272.  AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATED WITHIN LIMITATIONS, AND AIRCRAFT LOGBOOK INDICATES AIRCRAFT WAS MAINTAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH FARS, INCLUDING COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES.  CONTROL FLUTTER AT THE RUDDERVATORS OCCURED. CAUSE IS UNDETERMINED.

## 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 CHI97LA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA119), Apr 29, 1997: Beech D35 (N5985C), Lexington, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: flutter for an undetermined reason, which resulted in structural damage to the aft fuselage.

## Other reports on N5985C (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20020304007689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020304007689A), Mar 4, 2002: Beech D35 (N5985C), Ankeny, IA, No damage. (-23) Mr. Randell, the pilot stated that he had a weather briefing prior to departing Ankeny, IA airport. Mr. Randell was alone in his aircraft and he…

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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