# Accident 19970607013589A: Piper PA15, Easton, PA, June 7, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 7, 1997, 09:15 local time
- Place: Easton, PA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.6798° N, 75.2194° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6798&lon=-75.2194&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4173H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4173H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-15 (registry code 7101502, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA15
- Reported engine: LYC O145*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 230 total, 127 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC97LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA109) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970607013589A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO 1200 FT AND PILOT HEARD LOUD POP, LOST AILERON CONTROL, ATTEMPTED TO LAND, HIT TREES. (.4) AFTER DEPARTURE AND LEVEL OFF, THE PILOT PERFORMED A SHALLOW LEFT TURN. WHEN HE TRIED TO LEVEL THE WINGS, HE FOUND HE HAD LOST AILERON CONTROL.  BY USE OF THE RUDDER AND POWER, HE PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING INTO A FIELD AND STRUCK TREES.  POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT FOLLOWING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION, AND THAT A PULLEY IN THE AILERON SYSTEM, LOCATED ON A WING STRUT, WAS CHIPPED, AND THAT THE AILERON CABLE HAD COME OUT OF ITS TRACK, AND TENSION WAS LOST IN THE AILERON SYSTEM.

## 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 NYC97LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA109), Jun 7, 1997: Piper PA-15 (N4173H), Easton, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A failed aileron pulley which resulted in loss of tension and subsequent loss of aileron control. A factor was the failure of the mechanic to detect the failed aileron pulley during the annual…

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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