# NTSB DFW05LA167: Piper PA-23-250, N2521M, Carizzo Springs, TX, June 21, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 21, 2005, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Carizzo Springs, TX - Coordinates: 28.522222, -99.822219 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5222&lon=-99.8222&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: San Antonio, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 61777 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05LA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61777/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05LA167 ## Probable cause The failure of the stabilator trim control rod due to internal corrosion. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - flt control syst,stabilator control cable/rod - corroded (cause) - flt control syst,stabilator control cable/rod - failure,total (cause) - Miscellaneous/other, cruise - 2 engines - propeller feathering - intentional, pilot in command - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis While in cruise flight the 1,403-hour pilot noticed that the trim wheel had rotated almost 360 degrees from its original position, stopped, and rotated 180 degrees in the opposite direction with no pitch attitude changes. The pilot then felt a strong vibration moving forward and aft in the yoke, followed by a clacking sound. The pilot feathered both engines and subsequently made a forced landing following an in-flight loss of the stabilator trim control. Examination of the stabilator trim tab control rod, revealed evidence of internal corrosion at the stabilator trim tab rod. Further examination revealed evidence that the corrosion had reduced the thickness of the load carrying area of the stabilator trim tab control rod. ## Factual narrative On June 21, 2005, approximately 1545 central daylight time, a Piper PA-23-250 twin-engine airplane, N2521M, registered to and operated by Water Tech DBA of Brawley, California, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of the stabilator trim control near Carizzo Springs, Texas. The private pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The 312-mile cross country flight originated from the Laredo International Airport, near Laredo, Texas, at 1500 and was destined for Pecos, Texas. During a telephone interview conducted by the NTSB, the 1,403-hour pilot reported that during cruise flight at 8,000 feet mean sea level, he engaged the autopilot system to take a photograph of a passenger. The pilot then noticed that the trim wheel had rotated almost 360 degrees from its original position, stopped, and rotated 180 degrees in the opposite direction with no pitch attitude changes. The pilot then disengaged the autopilot and actuated the electric trim button on the yoke with no change in pitch. As the pilot verified stabilator control, a "strong vibration moving forward and aft" was felt in the yoke followed by a "clacking sound". Subsequently, the airplane started to "shudder," the pilot reduced power on both engines to idle, and the "shudder" stopped. The pilot cross checked the engine instruments and observed the manifold pressure gauge for the right engine "pegged" and decided to feather the right engine. He then increased the power for the left engine to 21 inches of manifold pressure and declared an emergency. A few minutes later, the airplane started to vibrate a second time with 400-500 feet altitude oscillations. The pilot immediately reduced power and feathered the left engine. The pilot then initiated a forced landing to the desert flats. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed that the stabilator trim tab control rod was fractured and separated approximately three inches forward of the trim tab control rod attach point. The leading edges of both wings were crushed aft throughout their respective span. The right engine was folded upwards and aft onto the wing. Examination of the stabilator trim tab control rod by the NTSB Materials Laboratory, located in Washington, D.C., revealed evidence of internal corrosion at the stabilator trim tab rod. Further examination revealed evidence that the corrosion had reduced the thickness of the load carrying area of the stabilator trim tab control rod. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2521M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2521M-2013-08-05), registration cancelled 2013-08-05, S/N 27-7954072, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-23-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-7954072 - Airframe hours: 2952 - Engines: Lycoming T10-540-CIA 250 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming T10-540-CIA 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Watere Tech DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2005, 28 hours before - Departed: Carizzo Springs, TX - Destination: PEQ, Pecos, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 1,403 total, 542 in this make and model, 1,348 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC) - Wind: 90° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: LRD ## 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 20050621014969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050621014969A), Jun 21, 2005: Piper PA23250, Carrizo Springs, TX, Destroyed. (-23) On June 21, 2005, at approximately 1550 CDT, N2521M was destroyed following an emergency landing into a mesquite field south of Carrizo Springs airport.… 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.