# NTSB CEN15LA242: Bellanca 8KCAB, N102EC, Superior, WI, May 27, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 27, 2015, 14:05 local (19:05 UTC) - Place: Superior, WI - Coordinates: 46.689723, -92.094718 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.6897&lon=-92.0947&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 8, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91250 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA242 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91250/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91250 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA242 ## Probable cause A stuck aileron due to a battery that had become jammed in the aileron bell crank. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while climbing after a touch-and-go landing, the airplane began an uncommanded left bank. The pilot perceived that the ailerons were jammed and attempted to regain control of the airplane; however, he was not successful, so he performed a forced landing to the airport property. A postaccident examination of the airplane found a 9-volt battery jammed in the aileron bell crank. The pilot reported that the battery was the same brand he used for his headset and that he had changed the batteries in flight several days before the accident flight. It is likely that the pilot dropped the battery during that flight. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 2015, about 1405 central daylight time, a Bellanca 8KCAB airplane, N102EC, experienced a loss of control authority and impacted terrain during a forced landing near the Richard I Bong Airport (SUW), Superior, Wisconsin. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan.According to the pilot, the flight was normal until after the second touch and go landing. The airplane was in a climb from the runway when it began an uncommanded left bank. He perceived that the ailerons were jammed and attempted to regain control of the airplane but was not successful. Additionally the pilot could not get the airplane to climb, so when the airplane was about 100 feet above ground level he performed a forced landing to the airport property. The airplane's forward fuselage was substantially damaged during the forced landing. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found a 9-volt battery jammed in the lower right aileron bellcrank. The pilot reported that the battery was the same brand that the he used for his headset. He had previously changed the batteries in flight several days earlier, but thought that he had accounted for all of the batteries. ## Aircraft - Registration: N102EC (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8KCAB - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 372-78 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 1975 - Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-360-H1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Superior Flying Services - Registered owner: Suweet Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2015, 16 hours before - Departed: SUW, Superior, WI - Destination: SUW, Superior, WI - Airport: SUW, Richard I Bong, runway 32, 4,001 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 27, 2014; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,073 total, 19 in this make and model, 3,994 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: KSUW ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20150527007519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150527007519A), May 27, 2015: Bellanca 8KCAB, Superior, WI, Substantial damage. After flying for approximately 30 minutes conducting basic maneuvers the pilot returned to suw to perform touch and go landings. Upon departure from runway 32… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91250. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428295&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 Overview (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 262 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428296&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20Overview%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 Battery and Bellcrank (item 3, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428297&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20Battery%20and%20Bellcrank-Master.PDF - Photo 3 Battery Found (item 4, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428298&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20Battery%20Found-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.