# NTSB NYC03LA175: Stinson 108, N97168, White Post, VA, July 31, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 2003, 16:05 local (20:05 UTC) - Place: White Post, VA - Coordinates: 39.0625, -78.091392 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0625&lon=-78.0914&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57635 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA175 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57635/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA175 ## Probable cause The pilot/ mechanic's improper annual inspection including his rigging of the elevator flight control, and his subsequent inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane prior to flight, when he failed to detect the improperly rigged elevator flight control, both of which resulted in restricted up elevator control during the flare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - maintenance,annual inspection - improper, owner/pilot mechanic (cause) - flt control syst,elevator control - restricted (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, owner/pilot mechanic (cause) - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The owner/mechanic overhauled the engine and gave the airplane an annual inspection. He took off on the first flight after the maintenance and when the airplane was on final approach, as he added the last notch of flaps, heard a sound which he described as a "ping." When he retarded the throttle shortly there after, he was unable to arrest its descent, and the airplane dove to the ground and nosed over. An FAA inspector reported that when he exercised the up elevator movement was intermittently restricted by a radio rack. The radio rack was tight in place and there was no evidence that it had shifted or was loose. Further, the up elevator movement was half of that specified for the airplane, and the down elevator movement was 150 percent of that specified. ## Factual narrative On July 31, 2003, about 1605 eastern daylight time, a Stinson 108, N97168, was substantially damaged while landing at White Post Airport, White Post, Virginia. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot owned the airplane, and held a mechanic's certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings. In addition, he held "Inspection Authorization" on his mechanic's certificate. The pilot stated he had just completed an annual inspection of the airplane, and also overhauled the engine. The accident flight was the first flight following the maintenance. The pilot stated: "Departed 3VA7 at 1600 EDT. A/C flew normally, flew one LH pattern, at about 1605 EDT, making normal approach at 75 mph, added full flaps and heard a "ting" noise. When about 12-15 feet above runway, chopped power and A/C immediately dove at runway - no up elevator. A/C hit runway at approx 65 - 70 mph and flipped upside down." An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the airplane. The vertical stabilizer was crushed, and the right wing strut was bent. In addition, the trusses adjacent to the right main cabin door were bent and broken. When the control yoke was exercised through its full range of motion, sometimes it would contacted the side of the radio rack, which restricted its rearward motion. However contact was not made every time the yoke was moved. The radio rack appeared tight and there was no evidence that it had shifted, or was loose. Measurements were taken with a protractor revealed the up elevator movement was 12 degrees, and the down movement was 33 degrees. According to the type certificate data sheet, the elevator movement allowed was 20 degrees down for all flap configuration. The elevator up movement was 17 degrees for flaps up, or 25.5 degrees with flaps extended. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N97168](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N97168-2007-08-10), registration cancelled 2007-08-10, S/N 108-168, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stinson 108 - Registry model: [Stinson 108](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108) (registry code 9230402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6A4150 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4150-series) (registry code 27024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 168 - Airframe hours: 3080 - Engines: Franklin 6A4-150 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 20, 2002, 1 hours before - Departed: 3VA7, White Post, VA - Destination: 3VA7 - Airport: 3VA7, White Post Airport, runway 4, 2,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 21, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,600 total, 850 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: OKV, 5 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 20030731030609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030731030609A), Jul 31, 2003: Univar 108, White Post, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) During a test flight and on final approach, the pilot reported he lost elevator control and the aircraft dove for the ground. The control yolk was… ## Other investigations on N97168 (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 IAD01LA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD01LA047), Apr 26, 2001: Stinson 108 (N97168), White Post, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to remove frost from the airplane prior to departure. A factor in the accident was the tall wet grass. 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.