# NTSB GAA15CA294: Howard DGA 15P, N1785H, Englewood, CO, September 25, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 25, 2015, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Englewood, CO - Coordinates: 39.559722, -104.85028 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5597&lon=-104.8503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 92102 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA294 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92102/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92102 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA294 ## Probable cause The separation of the elevator control system linkage at a push/pull tube and cable joint, for an unknown reason, because the bolt and associated hardware securing the joint was not found for examination. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: elevator control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Howard DGA-15P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md?model=4690506), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md) - [Flight control system: elevator control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction; cases with it: [Howard DGA-15P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md?model=4690506), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Howard DGA-15P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=4690506), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Howard DGA-15P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=4690506), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Howard DGA-15P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=4690506), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Howard DGA-15P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=4690506), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was en route to his destination and three to four miles before reaching the runway, he lost elevator authority. The pilot used elevator trim and power settings to control pitch and descended over the runway. The pilot was able to level off over the runway and tried to get the airspeed to decrease. The airplane descended, impacted the runway, and sustained substantial damage to a wing strut. A postaccident examination by the FAA revealed the elevator control separated at a connection between the control cable and a push/pull tube. The tube and cable ends remained intact, and showed no signs of deformation or fatigue. The bolt connecting them was missing and not recovered for examination. According to methods, techniques, and practices in Advisory Circular 43.13B the bolt should have been secured with a castellated nut and cotter pin, and neither were recovered from the wreckage. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was en route to his destination and three to four miles before reaching the runway, he lost elevator authority. The pilot used elevator trim and power settings to control pitch and descended over the runway. The pilot was able to level off over the runway and tried to get the airspeed to decrease. The airplane descended, impacted the runway, and sustained substantial damage to a wing strut. A postaccident examination by the FAA revealed the elevator control separated at a connection between the control cable and a push/pull tube. The tube and cable ends remained intact, and showed no signs of deformation or fatigue. The bolt connecting them was missing and not recovered for examination. According to methods, techniques, and practices in Advisory Circular 43.13B, the bolt should have been secured with a castellated nut and cotter pin, and neither were recovered from the wreckage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1785H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1785H), registered now, S/N 1785, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HOWARD AIRCRAFT DGA 15P - Registry model: [Howard DGA-15P](https://openairdocs.org/model/howard-dga-15p) (registry code 4690506) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1785 - Year built: 1943 - Airframe hours: 215 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 2015 - Departed: APA, Englewood, CO - Destination: APA, Englewood, CO - Airport: APA, Centennial, runway 35R, 10,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 15, 2015; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,800 total, 375 in this make and model, 2,600 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: KAPA, 1 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 20150925016909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150925016909A), Sep 25, 2015: Howard Aircraft DGA-15P, Aurora, CO, Minor damage. PIC declared an emergency due to ineffectiveness of the elevator control. Aircraft porpoised several times before impacting runway. PIC sustained minor… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92102. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 877 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433325&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 181 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433326&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 3 photos, 841 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433327&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.