20110403005309A

Accident · Minor damage

FAA accident report · Xtremeair Sbach 342 · April 3, 2011

Date: April 3, 2011 · 17:30 local
Airport: Springerville
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N142WP
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR11CA197
Reported as: Xtremeair Sbach 342
Reported engine: Lycoming AEIO-580-B1A
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 203 total117 in this make and model36 in the last 90 days

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.

While in level flight, the pilot experienced a loss of elevator control. The pilot controlled the pitch of the aircraft using elevator trim. A landing was made at the Springerville, AZ airport (D68), but lost control after touchdown resulting in damage to the right wing, main landing gear, propeller, engine mount, and firewall. Following the accident the pilot found his personal ELT wedged between a bellcrank for the elevator and a fuel pump located below the pilot's seat.

As the FAA filed it

WHILE IN LEVEL FLIGHT, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ELEVATOR CONTROL. THE PILOT CONTROLLED THE PITCH OF THE AIRCRAFT USING ELEVATOR TRIM. A LANDING WAS MADE AT THE SPRINGERVILLE, AZ AIRPORT (D68), BUT LOST CONTROL AFTER TOUCHDOWN RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING, MAIN LANDING GEAR, PROPELLER, ENGINE MOUNT, AND FIREWALL. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT FOUND HIS PERSONAL ELT WEDGED BETWEEN A BELLCRANK FOR THE ELEVATOR AND A FUEL PUMP LOCATED BELOW THE PILOT'S SEAT.

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 WPR11CA197Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportSpringerville, AZThe pilot's failure to properly secure loose objects in the cockpit area which resulted in a personal locator beacon becoming lodged in the elevator control torque tubes, restricting flight control movement.Apr 4, 2011 · Substantial damage