What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
While en-route from platte valley airpark, co (18V) to Hays, KS (hys), the pilot of an experimental amateur built Moose, N384JP, reported that he encountered a brief 2 to 3 second rudder vibration during cruise flight approximatly 30 miles west of Hays, Kansas. Shortly after the vibration stopped, he disconnected the 2 axis autopilot. The aircraft remained stable, and the pilot landed the aircraft at Hays, Kansas (hys) without incident. The pilot noted severe damage to empenage section just forward of the horizontal stabilizer.
As the FAA filed it
WHILE EN-ROUTE FROM PLATTE VALLEY AIRPARK, CO (18V) TO HAYS, KS (HYS), THE PILOT OF AN EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR BUILT MOOSE, N384JP, REPORTED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A BRIEF 2 TO 3 SECOND RUDDER VIBRATION DURING CRUISE FLIGHT APPROXIMATLY 30 MILES WEST OF HAYS, KANSAS. SHORTLY AFTER THE VIBRATION STOPPED, HE DISCONNECTED THE 2 AXIS AUTOPILOT. THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED STABLE, AND THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT AT HAYS, KANSAS (HYS) WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE PILOT NOTED SEVERE DAMAGE TO EMPENAGE SECTION JUST FORWARD OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.