# Accident 20230601022169A: Beech V35A, Statesboro, GA, June 1, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 1, 2023, 15:20 local time
- Place: Statesboro, GA
- Airport: Statesboro-Bullock County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.4828° N, 81.7369° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4828&lon=-81.7369&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8074R, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8074R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech V35A (registry code 1151544, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH V35A
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,099 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA253](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA253) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230601022169A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED STATESBORO-BULLOCK REGIONAL AIRPORT FOR A TEST FLIGHT FOLLOWING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION AND THE INSTALLATION OF NEW AVIONICS EQUIPMENT WHICH INCLUDED A THREE AXIS GARMIN GFC 500 AUTOPILOT. THE PILOT COMPLETED FUNCTIONAL CHECKS DURING THE UNEVENTFUL FIRST HOUR OF THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT TUNED THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR AN ILS APPROACH AND ARMED THE APPROACH MODE FOR THE AUTOPILOT. AFTER REACHING THE ILS GPS WAYPOINT FOR RUNWAY 32, THE AUTOPILOT DID NOT TURN ONTO THE LOCALIZER. THE PILOT THEN DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPILOT AND TURNED BACK TOWARD THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE. HE APPLIED POWER AND THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED DOWN. HE PULLED POWER BACK AND APPLIED NOSE UP TRIM VIA THE ELECTRIC TRIM. HE AGAIN APPLIED POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED NOSE DOWN AGAIN. NOW AT APPROXIMATELY A FOUR MILE FINAL, HE ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE YOKE BACK BUT WAS UNABLE TO MOVE IT DUE TO INCREASED RESISTANCE AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND. HE MANUALLY ROLLED NOSE-UP TRIM TO THE STOP WITHOUT ANY EFFECT ON THE YOKE RESISTANCE OR THE AIRCRAFT’S ATTITUDE.  AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY, THE LEFT WING STRUCK AN APPROACH LIGHT POLE. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GRASS AND SKIDDED TO A STOP AFTER SHEARING THE NOSE AND LEFT LANDING GEAR.

## 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 ERA23LA253](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA253), Jun 1, 2023: Beech V35A (N8074R), Statesboro, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel’s improper installation of the pitch servo bridle cable clamp, which led to binding in the elevator control system that restricted aft yoke movement during the landing approach.

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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