Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-34-220T near Ankeny, IA — 2010-06-09

Final reportCEN10LA312
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Date
2010-06-09
Location
Ankeny, IA, USA
Airport
IKV
Aircraft
PIPER PA-34-220T
Registration
N104NW
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The failure of the stabilator control cable due to wear. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate maintenance inspection of the stabilator control cable.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that when he pulled back on the control yoke during the landing flare the nose of the airplane did not pitch up. The airplane landed hard on the nosewheel and bounced several times before stopping on the runway. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the stabilator control cable had fractured in two pieces. The location of the fracture was in the unobstructed area in the tail cone; the location of the fracture was not associated with a pulley, fairlead, or bulkhead, and no rubbing or chaffing was found in the area of the fracture. The entire length of the cable was covered with dried black grease and the majority of the fractured ends of the individual wires exhibited wear damage with the exposed surfaces of the wires covered in grease. The ends of the fractured wires exhibited features typical of overstress separation, with no evidence of fatigue cracking. Federal Aviation Administration guidance states that the inspection and repair of control cables should be accomplished during annual inspections. The aircraft maintenance logbooks indicated that the last annual maintenance inspection was conducted about three months prior to the accident, equating to 17 flight hours. The logbook entry for that inspection indicated that the control cables were checked for correct rigging and cable tensions. The logbook entry stated, “Stabilator OK.” There was no indication of any repair or replacement of the stabilator control cable.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Inspection and maintenance of control cables not performed as per FAA recommendations.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 17 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents17

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