# Accident 20030707016779A: Piper PA28181, Scottsdale, AZ, July 7, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 7, 2003, 12:56 local time
- Place: Scottsdale, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: FQAS
- Location: 33.6881° N, 112.0825° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6881&lon=-112.0825&mi=10
- Aircraft: N288PA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N288PA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-181 (registry code 7102807, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360 series (registry code 41575, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28181
- Reported engine: LYC O360*
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA228) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030707016779A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT WAS CONDUCTING PRACTICE FLIGHTS FOR HIS COMMERCIAL RATING WHEN HE LOST AILERON CONTROL. THE CONTROL WHEEL MOVED BUT HAD NO EFFECT ON THE AILERONS, AT ONE POINT THE AIRCRAFT TRIED TO FLIP OVER AND THE PILOT PANICKED. AFTER REGAINING HIS COMPOSURE HE DECIDED TO GET THE WINGS LEVEL AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A DIRT ROAD USING RUDDER STEERING ONLY. HE LANDED ON THE ROAD STRIKING A TREE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THE RIGHT WING CAUSING THE WING TO FAIL AT THE FUSELAGE. THE WING FAILED UP AT A 30 DEGREE ANGLE PREVENTING HIS EGRESS, PASSERBYS HAD TO REMOVE THE CABIN DOOR BEFORE THE PILOT COULD ESCAPE. THE CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF CONTROL WAS THE SINGLE MS24964-S59 SCREW THAT ATTACHES THE CONTROL WHEEL TO THE CONTROL COLUMN BACKED OUT OF THE NUTPLATE RIVETED IN THE INSIDE OF THE CONTROL COLUMN AND FELL TO THE FLOOR OF THE COCKPIT. THE WHEEL THEN SPUN FREE ON THE COLUMN. THE SCREW IS INSTALLED FROM THE BOTTOM ALLOWING GRAVITY TO ASSIST IN THE MIGRATION OUT OF THE NUTPLATE WHICH HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE DEFECTIVE, IN ADDITION IT APPEARS THE SCREW IS TOO SHORT AND DOES NOT ENGAGE ENOUGH THREADS TO ASSURE A GOOD LOCK ON THE SCREW.

## 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 LAX03LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA228), Jul 7, 2003: Piper PA-28-181 (N288PA), Phoenix, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The disengagement of the left control wheel from the control column, which was due to the attaching screw backing out of the nut plate. Also causal was the manufacturer's inadequate design of the…

## Other reports on N288PA (1)

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

- [Accident 20170311001319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170311001319A), Mar 11, 2017: Piper PA-28-181 (N288PA), Gila Bend, AZ, Substantial damage. Flight instructor chose to land at a closed runway by NOTAM, in the dark causing substantial damage to the aircraft empanage. Pilot did not stop on the runway…

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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