Sunday, July 01, 2018

Aviat Husky A-1B, N299CA, registered to and operated by Grandview Photo Inc: Accident occurred September 09, 2017 in Prairie du Chien, Crawford County, Wisconsin

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entities:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Aviat Aircraft Inc.; Afton, Wyoming

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms 
 
http://registry.faa.gov/N299CA


Location: Prairie du Chien, WI
Accident Number: CEN17LA344
Date & Time: 09/09/2017, 1545 CDT
Registration: N299CA
Aircraft: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A 1B
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Flight control sys malf/fail
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under:  Part 91: General Aviation - Business 

On September 9, 2017, about 1545 central daylight time, an Aviat Husky A-1B airplane, N299CA, experienced a flight control failure near Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. The commercial rated pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left aileron. The airplane was registered to and operated by Grandview Photo Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an aerial photography flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Prairie du Chien Municipal Airport (PDC), Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, about 1300, flew over northwest Iowa for the aerial photography portion of the flight, and was destined for La Crosse Regional Airport (LSE), La Crosse, Wisconsin.

The pilot reported that he concluded the aerial photography portion of the flight, climbed the airplane to 3,500 ft mean sea level and proceeded toward LSE. About 5 minutes later he felt "light buffeting" as the airplane rolled left. He attempted to counteract the left roll by inputting right control stick pressure, but the airplane continued to roll left. He input right rudder to stop the left roll and decided to return to PDC, which was about 10 nautical miles southeast of his location. He used the rudder to maneuver the airplane to PDC and landed uneventfully. After parking the airplane, he moved the control stick left and right several times and the outboard end of the left aileron fell to the ground. The pilot and his mechanic disconnected the inboard aileron connection and removed it for examination.

A review of the airplane maintenance logbooks revealed that on August 8, 2008, the left wing tip was replaced due to "hangar rash" and there was no specific mention of damage to the left aileron. There were no other logbook entries that mentioned the left wing or left aileron. The most recent airframe annual inspection was completed on January 18, 2017, at and airplane total time of 5,348 hours; the airframe had accumulated 5,177 hours since the wing tip was replaced.

The aileron hinge bracket was removed and sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for a detailed examination. The examination revealed that the main tube exhibited a complete circumferential fracture just aft of the mounting flange (figure 1).


Figure 1 – Aileron Hinge Bracket

The fracture surface on the flange side was examined with a scanning electron microscope, which revealed two fatigue fracture origins that led to two regions of final overstress fracture. The fatigue fractures occurred under low stress over an extended period of time. No anomalies were noted in the origin regions. The fractures did not occur at the welds and no anomalies were noted with the welds. The examination did not find any specific evidence of bending at the fracture area. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial
Age: 57, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 04/10/2017
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 04/13/2017
Flight Time:  19430 hours (Total, all aircraft), 16000 hours (Total, this make and model), 19330 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 353 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 115 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 14 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC
Registration: N299CA
Model/Series: A 1B
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2005
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 2294
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 01/24/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2000 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 5779 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-360-A1P
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 180 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KPDC, 661 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1555 CDT
Direction from Accident Site: 174°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 8 knots 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 130°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.3 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 25°C / 11°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, WI (PDC)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: LA CROSSE, WI (LSE)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1300 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class E 

Airport Information

Airport: PRAIRIE DU CHIEN MUNI (PDC)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 660 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 11
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3999 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Precautionary Landing 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude:  43.021944, -91.124444 (est)

NTSB Identification: CEN17LA344
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, September 09, 2017 in Prairie du Chien, WI
Aircraft: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A 1B, registration: N299CA
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On September 9, 2017, about 1545 central daylight time, an Aviat Husky A-1B airplane, N299CA, experienced a flight control failure near Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. The commercial pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left aileron. The airplane was registered to Grandview Photo Inc., and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an aerial photography flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Prairie du Chien Municipal Airport (PDC), Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, flew over northwest Iowa for the aerial photography portion of the flight, and was destined for La Crosse Regional Airport (LSE), La Crosse, Wisconsin. 

The pilot reported that he ceased the aerial photography operation about 1500, climbed the airplane to 3,500 ft mean sea level (msl) and proceeded toward LSE. About 1505 he felt "light buffeting" as the airplane rolled left. He attempted to counteract the left roll by inputting right control stick pressure, but the airplane continued to roll left. He input right rudder to stop the left roll and decided to return to PDC, which was about 10 nautical miles southeast. He used the rudder to maneuver the airplane to PDC and landed uneventfully. After parking the airplane, he actuated the control stick left and right several times and the outboard end of the left aileron fell to the ground. The pilot and his mechanic disconnected the inboard aileron connection and removed it for preservation. 

The airplane and left aileron have been retained for further examination.

1 comment:

  1. Wow this could have been much worse!
    Kudos to the pilot!

    ReplyDelete