# Accident 20230503011539A: Piper PA-34-200, Conroe, TX, May 3, 2023 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: May 3, 2023, 14:28 local time - Place: Conroe, TX - Airport: Conroe North Houston - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Maneuver - Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141) - Operator: U9FS - Location: 30.5782° N, 95.1776° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5782&lon=-95.1776&mi=10 - Aircraft: N28HE, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28HE-2024-02-28) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-34-200 (registry code 7103405, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200 - Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 2 - Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor - Pilot flight hours: 33,856 total - NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA172) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230503011539A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. I WAS CONDUCTING A CHECK RIDE FOR MULTI-ENGINE COMMERCIAL FOR STUDENT. WE STARTED AT 12:00 BUT DEPARTED CXO AT 12:30. BEFORE DEPARTURE THE PLAN WAS BRIEFED, A PREFLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED AND RUN UP COMPLETED. WE TOOK OFF AND DEPARTED TO THE NORTH EAST AND CLIMBED TO 3500 FEET. WE HAD JUST COMPLETED STEEP TURNS LEFT AND RIGHT AND ROLLED OUT ON A HEADING OF 020 TOWARD LAKE LIVINGSTON. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONFIGURED FOR SLOW FLIGHT CLEAN WHEN I HEARD A BOOM OR BANG NOISE. THE CONTROL YOKES CAME BACK AND I DID NOT HAVE PITCH CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED UP 50 DEGREES AND WHEN POWER WAS APPLIED IT PITCHED UP MORE. IT ACTED AS IF THE ELEVATOR WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO OSCILLATE. I HAD TAKEN THE CONTROLS AND STUDENT OPERATED THE RADIOS. SHE CALLED CXO TOWER AND DECLARED A MAY DAY, STATED AIRCRAFT CONTROL FAILURE AND SHE SQUAWKED 7600 ON THE TRANSPONDER. THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE AIRCRAFT, IT WAS OSCILLATING AND IT WAS LESS PRONOUNCED WITH DECREASED POWER. I PICKED OUT A FIELD FOR LANDING AND KEPT THE WHEELS UP AND PULLED THE MIXTURE CUTOFF. WE WENT THROUGH THE TOP OF THE TREES HIT THE GROUND, BOUNCED ABOUT 20 FEET AND CAUGHT THE LEFT WING. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST AND I TURNED THE MASTER SWITCH OFF, THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE STUDENT WAS INJURED WITH A DEEP GASH TO HER HEAD. I WAS INJURED AND IT FELT AS IF I HAD THE BREATH KNOCKED OUT OF ME. WE WERE ABLE TO GET HER SEAT BELT OFF AND UNTANGLED AND OPEN THE DOOR. WE CRAWLED OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT FOR ABOUT 30 YARDS TO THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT AND CALLED 911. I NOTICED A COUPLE OF AIRPLANES CIRCLING OVERHEAD AND IT TOOK FIRE AND RESCUE ABOUT 28 MINUTES TO ARRIVE. INSPECTORS NOTE: UPON INVESTIGATION AT THE CRASH SITE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE HARDWARE THAT SECURED THE ELEVATOR TRIM CONTROL ROD TO THE ADJUSTMENT TRIM MECHANISM WAS MISSING. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF PITCH CONTROL RESULTING IN THE ACCIDENT. ## 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 CEN23LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA172), May 3, 2023: Piper PA-34-200 (N28HE), Coldspring, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The stabilator trim rod assembly separated from the stabilator link assembly due to a missing connecting bolt, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to maintain pitch control of the airplane. ## Other reports on N28HE (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20200118003659I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200118003659I), Jan 18, 2020: Piper PA-34-200 (N28HE), Abilene, TX, Minor damage. On January 18, 2020, at approximately 1958 CDT, N28HE, a Piper PA-34, was on an instructional flight and landed at Abilene Regional Airport in Abilene, Texas.… - [Incident 20131022020979I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131022020979I), Oct 22, 2013: Piper PA-34-200 (N28HE), Fort Worth, TX, Minor damage. The instructor, - began his day at 0930 CDT teaching a two hour ground lesson to a different student. He then flew an instructional flight at 1130 that lasted… - [Incident 20090123000389I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090123000389I), Jan 23, 2009: Piper PA34200 (N28HE), San Diego/El C, CA, Minor damage. (-23) N28HE a Piper PA34-200, during touch and go landing at Gillespie Field Airport runway 27R, student pilot retracted landing gear prior to becoming… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.