# Accident 20170208007499A: Piper PA-18-125, Soldotna, AK, February 8, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 8, 2017, 14:56 local time
- Place: Soldotna, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 60.5103° N, 150.8506° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.5103&lon=-150.8506&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1268A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1268A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-125 (registry code 7101812, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-125) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-125
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 292 total, 260 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC17LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17LA016) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170208007499A

## Narrative

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

STATEMENT FROM PILOT-

PILOT DEPARTED PRIVATE AIRSTRIP AT 1435 AND FLEW TOWARDS KENAI RIVER AND MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN. AT THIS TIME THE PILOT  REPORTED THAT SHE EXPERIENCED A CONTROL LOCK AND COULD NOT RETURN CONTROLS TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. ELEVATOR AND AILERON CONTROL WAS LOCKED AND COULD NOT BE CORRECTED WITH RUDDER.

PILOT STATED RADIO CONTACT WAS MADE TO REPORT THE SITUATION .

THE AIRCRAFT THEN STARTED DESCENT IN A RIGHT HAND TURN  UNTIL IT CONTACTED THE GROUND ON THE BANK OF THE KENAI RIVER.

NARRATIVE DERIVED FROM INFORMATION PROVIDED BY PILOT IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT.

AN INVESTIGATION OF AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS CONDUCTED. DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIAL. THE FUSELAGE, WINGS, ENGINE AND PROPELLER SUSTAINED DAMAGE. ONLY THE REAR EMPENNAGE APPEARED UNDAMAGED.

THE PILOT INJURIES WERE CONSIDERED SERIOUS. SHE SUFFERED MULTIPLE LACERATIONS AND BREAKS IN LOWER RIGHT LEG.

IN A STATEMENT OBTAINED FROM THE PILOT, JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, SHE EXPERIENCED A ?CONTROL LOCK? WHILE EXECUTING A RIGHT HAND TURN. AILERONS AND ELEVATOR WERE JAMMED RESULTING IN A CONTINUAL SPIRAL DOWN UNTIL AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND.

WHEN THE AIRCRAFT CONTROL SYSTEM CONTINUITY CHECK WAS PERFORMED BY FAA AND NTSB INVESTIGATION TEAMS, THE FLIGHT CONTROLS OPERATED FREELY. NO DEFINITIVE CAUSE COULD BE DETERMINED.

INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED. OTHER THAN THE PILOT, NO OTHER WITNESS COULD COMMENT ON PHASE OF FLIGHT PRIOR TO ACCIDENT.

MINOR LOG BOOK ISSUES WERE IDENTIFIED DURING THE INVESTIGATION AND WERE CORRECTED ON THE SPOT BY AIRCRAFT OWNER.

UPON COMPLETION OF INVESTIGATION, FOD IN THE AFT FLOOR CAVITY WHERE THE CONTROL TUBE IS ATTACHED IS SUSPECT CAUSE.

THE AIRCRAFT PILOT^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ COVER PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED, BUT IT HAD BROKEN AND WAS REMOVED PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. A NEW COVER  WILL BE INSTALLED AFTER AIRCRAFT RE-BUILD.

## 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 ANC17LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17LA016), Feb 9, 2017: Piper PA18 (N1268A), Sterling, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of control while maneuvering for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

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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