20040619013349A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Amtr BERKUTCB540 · Lapeer, MI · June 19, 2004

Date: June 19, 2004 · 17:25 local
Place: Lapeer, MI
Airport: Dupont-Lapeer Airport
Phase of flight: Final Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N5439N
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI04CA159
Reported as: Amtr BERKUTCB540
Reported engine: Lycoming IO540*
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,100 total460 in this make and model15 in the last 90 days

N5439NRegistration cancelled Dec 15, 2004 · Bracken Charles O CB540S/N 981101-39 · Built 1999 Airframe modelBracken Charles O CB540 Engine modelLycoming IO-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Pilot stated that he was experiencing roll problems (left wing heavy) and decided to land at Lapeer airport, D95 to investigate. While following a slower aircraft in to land, he stated that the problem was worsening and that he was having trouble keeping the aircraft level. His next memory was being on the ground in the wreckage. Aircraft hit power lines (500 ft from runway) and crashed 200 ft short of runway. Damage to the aileron system was extensive. The control stick/quadrant, most of the cockpit, both canards and both wings were torn from the fuselage. The remaining portion of aileron controls located in the engine compartment, including the autopilot roll servo, were examined and no defect was noted. Unable to determine cause of the aileron control anomaly.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING ROLL PROBLEMS (LEFT WING HEAVY) AND DECIDED TO LAND AT LAPEER AIRPORT, D95 TO INVESTIGATE. WHILE FOLLOWING A SLOWER AIRCRAFT IN TO LAND, HE STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WORSENING AND THAT HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING THE AIRCRAFT LEVEL. HIS NEXT MEMORY WAS BEING ON THE GROUND IN THE WRECKAGE. AIRCRAFT HIT POWER LINES (500 FT FROM RUNWAY) AND CRASHED 200 FT SHORT OF RUNWAY. DAMAGE TO THE AILERON SYSTEM WAS EXTENSIVE. THE CONTROL STICK/QUADRANT, MOST OF THE COCKPIT, BOTH CANARDS AND BOTH WINGS WERE TORN FROM THE FUSELAGE. THE REMAINING PORTION OF AILERON CONTROLS LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, INCLUDING THE AUTOPILOT ROLL SERVO, WERE EXAMINED AND NO DEFECT WAS NOTED. UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE AILERON CONTROL ANOMALY.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI04CA159Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportLapeer, MIThe pilot's loss of control due to an undetermined flight control system malfunction. Contributing factors to the accident were the wires and trees.Jun 19, 2004 · Destroyed

Other reports on N5439N · 2

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

Incident 20010723030349ILevel Off Touchdown · Chicago/Aurora, IL(-23) Upon landing the main landing gear collapsed, the nose gear remained down and locked. Aircraft ran off the runway into grass, pilot was not injured.Jul 23, 2001 · Minor damage Incident 20010318005039ILevel Off Touchdown · Pontiac, MI(-23) Canopy latch failed in flight. Pilot landed without incident.Mar 18, 2001 · Minor damage