# Accident 20121110025539A: Waller Charles R RANS S12-XL, Gordon, AL, November 10, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 10, 2012, 09:00 local time
- Place: Gordon, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.1333° N, 86.9000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1333&lon=-86.9000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N933CW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N933CW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Waller Charles R RANS S12-XL (registry code 056176L, https://openairdocs.org/model/waller-charles-r-rans-s12-xl) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax SEE BOMBADIER (registry code 55555, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WALLER CHARLES R RANS S12-XL
- Reported engine: ROTAX SEE BOMBADIER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,000 total, 222 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13LA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA052) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121110025539A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED A PRIVATE GRASS AIRSTRIP AND LEVELED OFF FOR CRUISE FLIGHT.  PILOT STATED THE ELEVATOR STARTED FLUTTERING UP AND DOWN VIOLENTLY, SHAKING THE AIRCRAFT.  PILOT DECIDED TO MAKE EMERGENCY LANDING IN A LARGE FIELD.  THE AIRCRAFT ON TOUCHDOWN HIT A HIDDEN HOLE, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO NOSE OVER AND FLIP UPSIDE DOWN.  THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED AIRCRAFT WITH NO INJURIES AND MODERATE DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT.  THE PILOT, WHO WAS ALSO THE BUILDER, FOUND THE ELEVATOR TAB CONTROL CABLE BROKEN ALLOWING THE ELEVATOR TO FLUTTER.

## 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 ERA13LA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA052), Nov 10, 2012: Waller Charles R Rans S12-XL (N933CW), Gordon, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A fatigue failure of the elevator pitch trim cable, which resulted in aerodynamic flutter of the elevator in flight and the airplane’s subsequent nose-over during the resultant precautionary landing.

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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