ATL99LA101

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna A188B · Glen Allan, MS · June 19, 1999

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 19, 1999, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
Place
Glen Allan, MS
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N53198Cessna A188B
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 3, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19990619007329A
Case key
46571

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The improper installation of a nut and bolt assembly by a maintenance personnel that resulted in the in-flight loss of control of the left ailiron.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightManeuvering - aerial application
Flight control,aileron - not securedCause
Miscellaneous,bolt/nut/fastener/clamp/spring - improperCause
Maintenance,installation - inadequateOther maintenance personnelCause
Forced landingDescent - emergency
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - emergency
Terrain condition - rough/uneven

Analysis

The pilot reported that, while surveying a field for future work, the airplane became uncontrollable. He selected an emergency landing area, and made a forced landing in a field. The airplane sustained structural damage during the forced landing when the left wing collided with the ground, and the airplane cartwheeled. During the examination of the airplane, the pilot reported that the left aileron control bolt had separated from the control surface. When the left aileron was removed from the airframe, the missing bolt was recovered from the inter-structure of the wing area. The bolt was reinstalled through the aileron assembly, and appeared to provide enough thread material to secure the aileron assembly. The examination of the bolt assembly also disclosed that the bolt that connected the forward end of the control rod to the bell crank was too short and did not protrude through the nylon lock on the nut. The rod-end bearing was also seized and would not move.

Factual narrative

On June 19, 1999, at 1400 central daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N53198, collided with the ground during a forced landing near Glen Allan, Mississippi, following an in-flight malfunction of the aileron control system. The business flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the commercial pilot was not injured. The flight initially departed Glen Allan, Mississippi, at 1355.

The pilot reported that, while surveying a field for future work, the airplane became uncontrollable when the ailerons malfunctioned. The pilot selected an emergency landing area, and made a forced landing in a field. The airplane sustained structural damage during the forced landing when the left wing collided with the ground, and the airplane cartwheeled.

During the examination of the airplane, the pilot reported that the left aileron control bolt had separated from the control surface. When the left aileron was removed from the airframe the missing bolt was recovered from the inter-structure of the wing area. The bolt was reinstalled through the aileron assembly, and appeared to provide enough thread material to secure the aileron assembly. The examination of the bolt assembly also disclosed that the bolt that connects the forward end of the control rod to the bell crank was too short and did not protrude through the nylon lock on the nut. The rod-end bearing was also seized and would not move.

Aircraft

Registration
N53198
Reported as
Cessna A188B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18801677T
Airframe hours
4,342
Engine
Continental IO-520-D, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial application · Part 91
Operator
Michael Lewis
Registered owner
Robert Flying Service
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · March 25, 1999 · 49 hours before
Departed
MS

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
39
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Center
Flight hours
3,000 total · 2,000 in this make and model · 200 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
130° at 5 knots
Visibility
7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
6,500 ft broken
Temperature
86 °F, dew point 70 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
GLH

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.