# Accident 20040619013349A: Amtr BERKUTCB540, Lapeer, MI, June 19, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 19, 2004, 17:25 local time
- Place: Lapeer, MI
- Airport: Dupont-Lapeer Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.0664° N, 83.2722° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0664&lon=-83.2722&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5439N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5439N-2004-12-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bracken Charles O CB540 (registry code 05606UT, https://openairdocs.org/model/bracken-charles-o-cb540) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR BERKUTCB540
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,100 total, 460 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI04CA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04CA159) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040619013349A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 CHI04CA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04CA159), Jun 19, 2004: Bracken CB540 (N5439N), Lapeer, MI, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of control due to an undetermined flight control system malfunction. Contributing factors to the accident were the wires and trees.

## Other reports on N5439N (2)

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

- [Incident 20010723030349I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010723030349I), Jul 23, 2001: Amtr BERKUTCB540 (N5439N), Chicago/Aurora, IL, Minor damage. (-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.
- [Incident 20010318005039I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010318005039I), Mar 18, 2001: Amtr BERKUTCB540 (N5439N), Pontiac, MI, Minor damage. (-23) Canopy latch failed in flight. Pilot landed without incident.

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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