# NTSB LAX01IA241: Beech A36, N808NH, Bakersfield, CA, June 27, 2001 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: June 27, 2001, 10:10 local (17:10 UTC) - Place: Bakersfield, CA - Coordinates: 35.433612, -119.056945 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4336&lon=-119.0569&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards Dist Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 52692 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01IA241 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52692/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01IA241 ## Probable cause During landing approach, mechanical binding of the elevator control cable occurred due to a contract mechanic's improper maintenance. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, go-around (vfr) - flt control syst,elevator control cable/rod - binding(mechanical) (cause) - maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) ## Analysis During the landing approach on an instructional flight, the certified flight instructor (CFI) initiated a go-around and experienced restricted elevator control movement. The elevator control became partially jammed in a nose low and then a nose high position. Roll and yaw control was not affected. Using considerable force, the CFI maintained airplane control and landed without additional incident. Thereafter, the airplane was inspected. Evidence of mechanical binding to the elevator pitch control cables was noted. Specifically, a screwdriver was found wedged between the nose gear actuator retract rod and the elevator control cables beneath the forward spar cover, between and under the pilots' seats. When the nose gear retracted, the nose gear actuator retract rod moved the screwdriver against the elevator control cable resulting in binding. Upon removal of the screwdriver, the elevator operation was normal. Two days prior to the incident, a contract mechanic had performed maintenance on the airplane. The maintenance required taking off the forward spar cover to allow removal and installation of a flap motor gearbox assembly and flap flex drives. Since this maintenance, the airplane had been operated 5.8 flight hours. ## Factual narrative On June 27, 2001, at 1010 Pacific daylight time, a Beech A36, N808NH, experienced restricted elevator control movement while performing a go-around at Meadows Field, Bakersfield, California. International Flight Training Academy was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI), dual student, and two passengers were not injured. The local instructional flight departed Bakersfield at 0921. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. According to the CFI, during the incident flight the student was performing an approach to Meadows Field when air traffic control tower personnel instructed the airplane pilot to go around. Due to the student's delayed response, the CFI stated that he assumed control of the airplane and initiated the go-around. While reconfiguring the airplane, the nose came up too high, and holding forward pressure on the control wheel and pitch trim reduction seemed ineffective. The CFI indicated that he applied additional force to the elevator control, the controls freed, and the nose abruptly pitched down and became jammed in a nose low attitude. The CFI again pulled back with great force, the elevator control freed, and the nose came up to an excessively nose-up pitch attitude. The oscillation continued for about three to four cycles. Roll and yaw controls were not affected. The CFI indicated that he successfully maintained control of the airplane and landed in a flaps up configuration. A post-incident inspection of the airplane revealed no pitch trim abnormalities. However, the elevator exhibited evidence of mechanical binding. A more detailed inspection revealed that a screwdriver had been left under the airplane's floor in proximity to control cables. Specifically, a 10-inch-long screwdriver was found wedged between the nose gear actuator retract rod and the elevator control cables beneath the forward spar cover, between and under the pilots' seats. As the nose gear retracted, the nose gear actuator retract rod moved the screwdriver against the elevator control cable resulting in binding. When the screwdriver was removed, the elevator operation was normal. A record review revealed that on June 25, 2001, a contract mechanic had performed maintenance on the airplane. The maintenance required taking off the forward spar cover to allow removal and installation of a flap motor gearbox assembly and flap flex drives. Since this maintenance, the airplane had been operated 5.8 flight hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N808NH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N808NH), registered now, S/N E-2817 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech A36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-2817 - Airframe hours: 3999 - Engines: Continental IO-550B-6F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: International Flight Training Academy, Inc. - Registered owner: ANA Trading Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 25, 2001, 6 hours before - Departed: BFL, BAKERSFIELD, CA - Destination: BFL, Bakersfield, CA - Airport: BFL, Meadows Field, runway 30L, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 16, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 1,164 total, 51 in this make and model, 1,045 as pilot in command, 92 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 26; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 15 total, 15 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: BFL ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20010627039109I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010627039109I), Jun 27, 2001: Beech A36, Bakersfield, CA. (.4) On June 27, 2001, at 1010 pacific daylight time, a Beech A36, N808NH, experienced restricted elevator control movement while performing a go-around at… 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.