Main Wreckage at Accident Site
Right Wing at Accident Site
Right Wing Showing Flap and Aileron Damage 
Corroded and Damaged Control Cable at Accident Site
Corroded and Damaged Control Cable at Accident Site
Corroded and Damaged Control Cable at Accident SiteThe National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; St. Louis, Missouri
Cessna; Wichita, Kansas
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
https://registry.faa.gov/N2764G
Location: Fults, IL
Accident Number: CEN15LA323
Date & Time: 07/14/2015, 1456 CDT
Registration: N2764G
Aircraft: CESSNA 182B
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Skydiving
On July 14, 2015 about 1456 central standard time, a Cessna 182B airplane, N2764G, registered to Cook Aviation of St. Louis, Missouri, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after the pilot bailed out (via donned parachute) due to flight control problems. There were no occupants on board when the airplane impacted the terrain. The sky dive flight had been conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 prior to the bail out. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from the Festus Memorial Airport (FES), Festus, Missouri, about 1415.
The pilot picked up four skydivers at FES. After climbing to 3,800 ft, one of the skydivers deployed, and at 11,000 ft, the remaining three skydivers deployed. According to the pilot's statement, the procedure for deploying skydivers was to input 10° of flaps prior to the skydivers' deployment. After the last skydiver exited the airplane, the pilot closed the door and started to retract the flaps from 10° to 0°. The pilot heard a "metallic" type snap noise and the airplane went into a spin. The pilot recovered the airplane from the spin about 7,000 ft. He discovered that the right flap was partially deployed about 5° down and appeared to be crooked in its track. In addition, he reported that there seemed to be a vibration present from the right flap with restricted aileron control. The pilot stated that lateral control was difficult to maintain.
On the airplane radio, the pilot contacted an airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic, who was based at FES, to discuss the flap malfunction. The pilot then attempted to execute a straight-in landing at FES, but initiated a go-around when he was not able to maintain lateral control as the airplane slowed on approach. After attempting to change the flap position, only the right left flap responded and the right flap stayed in the 5° position. After 30 minutes of trying to control a slow spin, it was determined between the pilot and the A&P mechanic that the pilot should bail out of the airplane. The pilot then maneuvered the airplane over unpopulated rural farmland to the east of FES. The pilot parachuted from the airplane after shutting down the engine. The pilot watched the airplane circle around him after his parachute deployed. The airplane impacted a bluff with no post impact fire. The pilot sustained no injuries from the event.
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the top outboard section of the right showed evidence of pre-impact contact with the bottom inboard side of the right aileron. There was about 1/2 inch of rubbed exposed primer in the area of the contact. The right flap appeared to be misaligned in its track, and the outboard portion of the flap would not freely extend from the retracted position. The outboard side of the flap was retracted and the inboard side was extended in the track. There was a broken control cable inboard of the flap bell crank that was found dirty and rusty in the area of the break. The right flap showed pre-impact evidence of contact with the right aileron. Due to impact forces, the pre-impact condition of the flap rollers and tracks could not be determined. A review of maintenance records did not show any recent work performed on the flap control system. The airplane had an annual inspection completed on May 18, 2015, and had flown about 80 hours since that inspection.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial; Private
Age: 19
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 06/24/2015
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 05/01/2015
Flight Time: 375 hours (Total, all aircraft), 200 hours (Total, this make and model), 350 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 200 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 60 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Registration: N2764G
Model/Series: 182B B
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1959
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 52064
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 05/18/2015, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2348 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 80 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 7995 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: CONT MOTOR
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-470 SERIES
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 230 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:
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time:
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None / 25000 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Light and Variable /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: 340°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 29.76 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 34°C / 22°C
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point: Festus, MO (FES)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Festus, MO (FES)
Type of Clearance: Traffic Advisory
Departure Time: 1415 CST
Type of Airspace: Class E
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 38.189722, -90.240556 (est)
Wow, 19 years old, fairly low time, and has that kind of composure? I hate flying commercial but I'd fly if this person was PIC.
ReplyDelete80 hours of jump duty would be a bunch of flap cycles. Too bad the annual inspection two months prior did not prevent the failure. Worn cable and related parts on the flaps cheaper to renew than replacing a plane.
ReplyDeletePilot did good, no injured people or cattle and no fire!
Good job !
ReplyDelete