# NTSB CEN16LA332: Piper PA 25-235, N6542Z, Miller, MO, August 5, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 5, 2016, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Miller, MO - Coordinates: 37.230556, -93.930274 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2306&lon=-93.9303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 1, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 93888 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA332 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93888/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93888 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA332 ## Probable cause The mechanic's improper installation of the left aileron swage fitting, which resulted in an inflight loss of control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: aileron control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022710): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022710/cases.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022710/cases.md) - [Maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 143 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot departed on the first test flight of the newly-restored airplane. Ten minutes after takeoff, the left aileron cable separated from the control stick. The pilot returned to the airport, but the airplane became harder to control as it slowed. The airplane's right wing contacted a corn field, and the airplane impacted terrain about 300 ft short of the runway. Postaccident examination found that the left aileron swage fitting was improperly secured, which resulted in the separation of the aileron cable. The control cable had been re-rigged during restoration. ## Factual narrative On August 5, 2016, about 1800 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, N6542Z, impacted terrain near Kingsley Airfield (MO9), Miller, Missouri. The commercial rated pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. 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 a statement provided to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by the pilot, he was test-flying N6542Z that had just been through "a complete restoration." After takeoff, about 10 minutes into the flight, the left aileron cable separated from the control stick. The pilot added that he was able to turn the airplane back towards the runway. As the airplane slowed, it become more and more difficult to control the airplane. The right wing then impacted a corn field about 300 ft from the runway. An examination of the airplane by FAA inspectors found that the swage fitting on the aileron control cable was improperly swaged, allowing the aileron to come loose from a control turnbuckle. The aileron cable was replaced and rigged during major maintenance and the airplane completed its annual inspection on February 9, 2016. The accident flight was the first flight since that restoration/annual inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6542Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6542Z), registered now, S/N 25-2081, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 25-235 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-2081 - Year built: 1962 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 9, 2016, 0 hours before - Departed: MO9, Miller, MO - Destination: MO9, Miller, MO - Airport: MO9, Kingsley Airfield ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: single; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KHFJ, 20 nm away ## 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 20160805019129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160805019129A), Aug 5, 2016: Piper PA-25-235, Miller, MO, Substantial damage. Shortly after takeoff from MO9 on a test flight, the pilot reported loss of aileron control. When the pilot attempted to return to the airport, the aircraft… ## Other investigations on N6542Z (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 SEA67D0308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA67D0308), May 3, 1967: Piper PA-25 (N6542Z), Craigmont, ID, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 29, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93888. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450473&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 5 photos, 753 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450480&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Airframe and Engine Annual Entries (item 3, .PDF, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450482&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Annual%20Entries-Master.PDF - Inspector's Statement (item 4, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450483&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Inspector%27s%20Statement-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.