# Accident 19980326040619A: Aerocd 100, Fort Worth, TX, March 26, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 26, 1998, 15:30 local time
- Place: Fort Worth, TX
- Airport: Fort Worth Meacham Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.6996° N, 97.3897° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6996&lon=-97.3897&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5530M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5530M-2017-07-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aero Commander 100 (registry code 0140202, https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-100) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROCD 100
- Reported engine: LYC O320A2B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 308 total, 1 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA160) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980326040619A

## Narrative

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

(.4)THE CONTROL ROD FOR THE PILOT'S AILERON CONTROL SEPARATED DURING TAKEOFF, INITIAL CLIMB, AFTER THE PILOT HEARD A 'LOUD POP'. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD, USING RUDDER INPUTS FOR DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE AND THEN 'BEGAN TO DRIFT LEFT OF CENTERLINE.' EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED A PUSH-PULL ROD FOR AILERON CONTROL WAS FOUND SEPARATED AT THE CONNECTING POINT TO THE BELLCRANK ASSEMBLY, BEHIND THE LEFT CONTROL YOKE. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE ROD DISCLOSED FRACTURE SURFACES WERE ROUGH AND HAD A MATTE APPEARANCE ALONG A SHEAR PLANE.  THE ROD EXHIBITED BENDING DEFORMATION ADJACENT TO THE FRACTURE.  ACCORDING TO THE METALLURGIST, THESE FEATURES ARE TYPICAL OF AN OVERSTRESS SEPARATION.  NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-EXISTING CRACKS, SUCH AS FATIGUE, WAS FOUND.

## 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 FTW98LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA160), Mar 26, 1998: Aero Commander 100 (N5530M), Fort Worth, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The separation of the aileron control rod due to bending overstress. A factor was the unsuitable terrain available for the precautionary landing.

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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