Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 150F near Ponca City, OK — 2016-05-01

Final reportCEN16LA184
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Date
2016-05-01
Location
Ponca City, OK, USA
Airport
PNC
Aircraft
CESSNA 150F
Registration
N8619G
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

Maintenance personnel's improper installation of the elevator bolt, which resulted in a loss of elevator control during landing.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot stated that, during the landing flare at the conclusion of a local flight, the airplane's nose "shot up drastically." The pilot "gently" pressed forward on the controls to lower the nose, and the airplane pitched down and impacted the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that a bolt that attached the left elevator to the control system was not installed, and the FAA inspector reported that the bolt was found undamaged inside the elevator tip. According to the pilot, maintenance personnel had recently removed the left elevator, and it is likely that they failed to properly secure the bolt when they reinstalled the elevator.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Properly inspect elevator attachment before flight to ensure safety.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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