# NTSB ERA24LA251: William Loren Noggle JA30 Superstol, N719LN, Tennille, GA, June 8, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 8, 2024, 19:50 local (23:50 UTC) - Place: Tennille, GA - Coordinates: 32.94639, -82.81397 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9464&lon=-82.8140&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194425 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA251 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194425/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194425 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA251 ## Probable cause The loss of elevator control during flight due to the elevator control rod and its hardware disconnecting from its installation area, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent into trees and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate inspection of the airplane and improperly performing the condition inspection without holding a repairman certificate. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [William Loren Noggle JA30 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05637U7), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Misc hardware: fasteners](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [William Loren Noggle JA30 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430/cases.md?model=05637U7), [All aircraft, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430/cases.md) - [Flight control system: elevator control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [William Loren Noggle JA30 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md?model=05637U7), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [William Loren Noggle JA30 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=05637U7), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [William Loren Noggle JA30 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05637U7), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he departed his home airport to maneuver in the local area. The maneuvering was uneventful and after about 10 to 15 minutes he began navigating back to the airport. While in level flight, approaching the airport’s traffic pattern area, about 2,500 ft mean sea level, he observed that the airplane’s “nose starts drifting down” to about 45° pitch down. He moved the control stick and there was “nothing” for elevator control and he processed that “elevator control authority was lost” as it felt like the control stick had become disconnected. The roll/ aileron control authority continued to function. He reported that he reduced power, tightened his seatbelt, and the airplane’s pitch continued to decrease, but as airspeed increased, the airplane’s pitch attitude “increased somewhat” to about 30° pitch down. The airplane continued to descend towards terrain. Shortly before impact, he reported that he maneuvered to the right to avoid a house and subsequently impacted a tree and terrain. The fuselage and wings sustained substantial damage. Postaccident inspection of the airplane found that the connection point between the elevator push rod and the control stick mixer was missing all of its hardware, which normally would be secured with a locknut (the missing hardware was not recovered). Reference Figure 1 for a view of the accident airplane as found compared to an exemplar parts and hardware. Figure 1: View of the elevator connecting rod attachment areas, exemplar and accident airplane (Photo Courtesy of FAA & Just Aircraft) The pilot reported that he performed the most recent condition inspection of the airplane 2 months before the accident. He reported that the elevator system and its hardware were not removed during the most recent inspection. The pilot was unable to produce the maintenance records despite repeated requests, nor did he hold a repairman certificate. The pilot, who was the builder of the airplane, reported that it had accumulated 130 hours of total flight time. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N719LN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N719LN), registered now, S/N JA 472-11-15, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WILLIAM LOREN NOGGLE JA30 SUPERSTOL (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [William Loren Noggle JA30 SUPERSTOL](https://openairdocs.org/model/william-loren-noggle-ja30-superstol) (registry code 05637U7) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JA 472-11-15 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 130 - Engines: ROTAX 912ULS SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 1, 2024, 3 hours before - Departed: OKZ, Sandersville, GA - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 7, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 159 total, 130 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.91 inHg - Observed at: OKZ, 2 nm away - METAR: METAR KOKZ 090055Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/19 A2991 RMK AO2 T02360190= ## 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 20240608021249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240608021249A), Jun 8, 2024: William Loren Noggle JA30 SUPERSTOL, Tennille, GA, Destroyed. On June 08, 2024, at approximately 2030 while in cruise flight pilot reported lost of elevator control. Pilot was able to maneuver aircraft with roll and yaw… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 19, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194425. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17571969&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20-%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record (pilot) (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17571600&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20(Pilot)-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record (airport manager) (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17571774&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20(Airport%20Manager)-Rel.pdf - Elevator assembly manual excerpts (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 593 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17572138&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20ERA24LA251%20-%20Elevator%20Assembly%20Manual%20Excerpts-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 4 photos, 803 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17571661&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Rel.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.