Wednesday, November 04, 2020

Stinson 108-3 Voyager , N6855M: Accident occurred November 03, 2020 at San Gabriel Valley Airport (KEMT), El Monte, California




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.

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

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Riverside, California  


Location: El Monte, CA
Accident Number: WPR21LA064
Date & Time: November 3, 2020, 12:35 Local 
Registration: N6855M
Aircraft: Stinson 108-3
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

On November 03, 2020, about 1235 Pacific daylight time, a Stinson 108-6, N6855M, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident in El Monte, California. The flight instructor and the private pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the flight instructor, the purpose of the flight was to provide tailwheel instruction to the private pilot positioned in the left seat. The private pilot began to perform touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings remaining in the traffic pattern for runway 19. On the third landing, the private pilot completed a three-point landing.

During the landing roll, the airplane veered to the left of the runway centerline and in response, the instructor assumed authority over the controls. The instructor applied right rudder and brake pressure and the airplane traveled to the right, back to the centerline. However, the instructor reported that despite his left rudder application to maintain the airplane’s direction of travel on the centerline, “now the left rudder inputs were ineffective.” The airplane continued to turn to the right, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane came to rest on the runway, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and aileron.

A postaccident examination conducted by the operator revealed that both of the tailwheel steering springs, chains, and connector links had separated from the steering arms and rudder control arms. The steering springs were recovered from the runway by airport personnel; one of the steering chains were recovered and the other could not be located. The two steering arm connector links remained attached to the rudder control arms.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Stinson 
Registration: N6855M
Model/Series: 108-3 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KEMT, 296 ft msl 
Observation Time: 18:48 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: -5.6°C /-10°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility: 3 miles
Altimeter Setting: 3005 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: El Monte, CA 
Destination: El Monte, CA

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 34.086009,-118.03484 (est)

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