ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 196819
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Saturday 22 July 2017 |
| Time: | 15:00 |
| Type: | Panzl S331E |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N331ST |
| MSN: | 001 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2005 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 318 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming IO-540 EXP |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | NE of Apple Valley Airport (KAPV), Apple Valley, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Apple Valley, CA (APV) |
| Apple Valley, CA (APV) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The private pilot was practicing her aerobatics routine. During the sixth figure of a nine-figure sequence, the pilot performed a snap roll to the right. Following the snap roll, the pilot performed a left roll as planned; however, rather than entering the next maneuver, the airplane continued to roll left. In-cockpit video indicated that, during the left roll, the right aileron exhibited a trailing-edge-down deflection consistent with a left turn. The pilot then moved her body toward the right side of the cockpit, consistent with a right control stick input. However, the airplane's rate of left roll increased, and the airplane continued to roll to the left as the pilot continued to lean toward the right. At this time, the right aileron indicated a trailing-edge-up deflection consistent with the pilot's right control stick input; the deflection of the left aileron could not be determined. The airplane continued to roll to the left until it impacted the ground.
Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the airframe revealed a break in the left aileron control assembly and one in the elevator control assembly. Both fracture surfaces of the left aileron control rod end exhibited relatively flat areas emanating from the inner diameter of the outer ring, which transitioned to angular planes adjacent to the outer diameter. One of fracture surfaces exhibited feathery features in the flat area consistent with fatigue cracking; the other fracture surface had smearing damage that obscured most of the finer features. The elevator control fracture exhibited features consistent with shear overstress.
The smearing damage indicated that the fatigue crack had been forming for some time. It is likely that the high stresses exerted on the airplane during aerobatic flight resulted in the final fracture of the left aileron control rod end due to fatigue.
Probable Cause: A fatigue failure of the left aileron control rod end during aerobatic flight, which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain control of the airplane.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
FAA register: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=331ST
Location
Images:
Photo: NTSB
Media:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 23-Jul-2017 01:21 | Geno | Added |
| 23-Jul-2017 07:38 | gerard57 | Updated [Date] |
| 23-Jul-2017 11:43 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Time, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 24-Jul-2017 15:04 | Alpine Flight | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 24-Jul-2017 17:35 | Geno | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 29-Jul-2017 06:43 | Anon. | Updated [Narrative] |
| 15-Jul-2019 18:05 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Damage, Narrative, Accident report, ] |
| 15-Jul-2019 19:50 | harro | Updated [Source, Embed code, Narrative, Photo] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation