# Accident 19971107032639A: Cessna 421A, Tomahawk, WI, November 7, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 7, 1997, 17:15 local time
- Place: Tomahawk, WI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.4705° N, 89.7204° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4705&lon=-89.7204&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2957Q, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2957Q) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 421A (registry code 2076012, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental GTSIO-520 series (registry code 17046, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 28,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA032) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971107032639A

## Narrative

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

(TTY) ACFT AUTO DIS ON CLIMB OUT, UPON LANDING THE RIGHT ELE WAS FOUND SEVERELY DAMAGED. MERRILL, WI. (.4)ON CLIMB OUT AT 11,000 FEET AT 700 FEET PER MINUTE RATE OF CLIMB ON AUTOPILOT, THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD BANG AND FELT A 'RAPID VIBRATION IN THE CONTROL YOKE.'  THE PILOT REPORTED PITCH TRIM WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND SAID HE CHECKED THE ENGINES FOR PROPER OPERATIONS.  THE FLIGHT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.  EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT ELEVATOR AND TRIM TAB.  THE REAR TRIM TAB LINKAGE BOLT WAS MISSING AND THERE WAS LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE YOKE OR TRIM TAB BUSHING. PAINT TRANSFER MARKS WERE FOUND ON THE TRIM TAB FROM THE ELEVATOR.  AN UNDERSIZED COTTER PIN WAS FOUND IN THE FORWARD LINKAGE BOLT.                                    (-23) SEE NARRATIVE #CHI98LA032

## 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 CHI98LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA032), Nov 7, 1997: Cessna 421A (N2957Q), Tomahawk, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the elevator trim tab bolt backed out, allowing the trim tab to flutter, and destroy the elevator. The factors involved were improper annual inspection by the maintenance personnel, and the…

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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