# NTSB WPR11CA197: Xtremeair Sbach 342, N142WP, Springerville, AZ, April 4, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 3, 2011, 17:40 local (Apr 4, 2011, 00:40 UTC) - Place: Springerville, AZ - Coordinates: 34.129165, -109.310836 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1292&lon=-109.3108&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 21, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 78865 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA197 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78865/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78865 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA197 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to properly secure loose objects in the cockpit area which resulted in a personal locator beacon becoming lodged in the elevator control torque tubes, restricting flight control movement. ## 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 · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Malfunction; cases with it: [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [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: [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis While descending from 10,500 feet to 8,500 feet on approach to the airport, the airplane encountered light turbulence and the pilot heard a noise emanating from the rear seat. The pilot immediately realized that the pitch control had become jammed and the range of available movement was minimal. He manipulated the trim to control the nose-down position, and continued the flight to the airport (the closest airport to his position). Upon crossing the threshold for landing, he reduced the power and the airplane touched down, bouncing twice before ground looping and coming to rest off the runway. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the pilot's personal location beacon (PLB) had become lodged in the bellcrank for the elevator torque tube. Once the PLB was removed, the elevator moved freely. ## Factual narrative The pilot was returning to home base from a fly-in event. While descending from 10,500 feet to 8,500 feet, he encountered some light turbulence and heard a noise emanating from the rear seat. He immediately realized that the pitch control had become jammed and there was minimal movement. He manipulated the trim to control the nose-down position, and continued the flight to the accident airport (the closest airport to his position). Upon crossing the threshold for landing, he reduced the power and the airplane touched down, bouncing two times before ground looping and coming to rest off the runway. After shutting the airplane down and exiting, the pilot further inspected the airplane. He found that his McMurdo personal location beacon (PLB) that he had connected to his left-hand shoulder harness and placed on the baggage tray, had fallen in between the seat support members and became lodged in the bellcrank for the elevator torque tube. Once the PLB was removed, the elevator moved freely. ## Aircraft - Registration: N142WP (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: XTREMEAIR GMBH SBACH 342 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 004 - Airframe hours: 356 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-580-B1A 315 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Douglas W. Jardine - Registered owner: Extreme Aerosports LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Aerobatic - Departed: CDS, Childress, TX - Destination: SOW, Show Low, AZ - Airport: D68, Springerville Municipal Airpor, runway 21, 8,422 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 14, 2010; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,167 total, 63 in this make and model, 36 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 27 knots, gusting 35 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.65 inHg - Observed at: SJN, 35 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 20110403005309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110403005309A), Apr 3, 2011: Xtremeair Gmbh SBACH 342, Minor damage. While in level flight, the pilot experienced a loss of elevator control. The pilot controlled the pitch of the aircraft using elevator trim. A landing was made… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78865. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348132&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.