Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-32R-301T near Mount Pleasant, TX — 2010-08-01

Final reportCEN10IA453
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Date
2010-08-01
Location
Mount Pleasant, TX, USA
Airport
OSA
Aircraft
PIPER PA-32R-301T
Registration
N4184X
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The failure of an aileron control cable due to a seized idler pulley bearing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was in level flight with the autopilot engaged when the airplane began an uncommanded roll. The pilot disengaged the autopilot and found that the airplane’s ailerons were inoperative. The pilot made a successful landing using the rudder for directional and roll control. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right aileron primary control cable was severed where it contacted an idler pulley. That pulley would not rotate due to an out-of-tolerance idler pulley outer bearing that restricted the rotation of the pulley. It is likely that the control cable sliding against the seized pulley caused the cable to wear through. The airplane manufacturer issued a maintenance alert following this incident that highlighted the importance of proper and recurring inspections of the flight control cables and pulleys.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Inspecting control cables and pulleys before the flight could have prevented failure.

NTSB coding

  • Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) · Enroute

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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