# NTSB WPR15LA126: Piper PA 18-150, N5385Y, Merced, CA, March 7, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 7, 2015, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Merced, CA - Coordinates: 37.583332, -120.383331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5833&lon=-120.3833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 90832 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90832/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90832 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA126 ## Probable cause The separation of the flight control stick from the stub due to its improper installation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: control column section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022701): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022701/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022701/cases.md) - [Flight control system: control column section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022701): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022701/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022701/cases.md) - [Maintenance: installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035): Personnel issues › Task performance · Other (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 371 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the private pilot, during the personal flight in the airplane, he applied back pressure to the flight control stick to climb the airplane over an approaching hill, but the control stick separated at the stub. The pilot attempted to reinsert the control stick onto the stub while simultaneously adding power to climb, but the airplane impacted terrain, slid, and came to rest along the hillside. Postaccident examination of the flight control stick revealed that the through bolt that secured the control stick to the stub was still secured to the control stick but not to the stub. There was no damage or deformation to the control stick or through bolt. Given the lack of damage to the flight control stick and through bolt, it is likely that the control stick was not properly installed during a maintenance activity; however, the maintenance logbook entries did not specify when the control stick was last removed. ## Factual narrative On March 7, 2015, about 1130 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, N5385Y, encountered a flight control stick malfunction and impacted rising terrain during a low altitude flight near Merced, California. The pilot (sole occupant) was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Pine Mountain Lake Airport (E45), in Groveland, California at 1100. According to the pilot, he applied back pressure to the flight control stick to climb the airplane over an approaching hill, but the control stick separated at the stub. The pilot attempted to reinsert the control stick onto the stub while simultaneously adding power to climb, but the airplane impacted terrain, slid, and came to rest along the hillside. According to the manufacturer's service manual, the flight control stick was constructed from tubular steel that extended to the floor of the airplane where it slides over a stub. A through bolt is then used to secure the control stick to the stub. Photographs of the control stick revealed the through bolt was still secured to the control stick and not to the stub. There was no damage or deformation to the control stick or through bolt. Photographs of the stub also revealed no deformation or damage; the hole designated for the through bolt also sustained no damage and was not elongated. The airplane's most recent maintenance was an annual inspection that occurred on December 19, 2014. Since the inspection, the airplane has flown about 33 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5385Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5385Y), registered now, S/N 18-8143, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-8143 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 4493 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Tarasievich Daniel - Registered owner: Tarasievich Daniel - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, December 19, 2014, 33 hours before - Departed: E45, Groveland, CA - Destination: E45, Groveland, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 16, 2013; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 884 total, 637 in this make and model, 769 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 11 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: MCE, 15 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 20150307004609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150307004609A), Mar 7, 2015: Piper PA-18-150, Merced, CA, Substantial damage. The aircraft control stick came disconnected from the flight controls while the aircraft was flying at low level. The aircraft quickly hit the earth before the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 2, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90832. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 926 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436301&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 2, .PDF, 273 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436302&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Photographs of Control Stick and Stub (item 3, .PDF, 4 photos, 992 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436303&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photographs%20of%20Control%20Stick%20and%20Stub-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.