Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-32-301 near Cold Bay, AK — 2011-04-15

Final reportANC11LA027
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Date
2011-04-15
Location
Cold Bay, AK, USA
Aircraft
PIPER PA-32-301
Registration
N81052
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

An in-flight encounter with unforecast turbulence, which resulted in structural damage to the stabilator.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while descending toward his destination, the airplane encountered severe turbulence of short duration. After the turbulence passed, he made an uneventful landing at his destination airport. A postaccident examination of the airplane discovered substantial damage to the stabilator. The wind at the destination airport was reported as 310 degrees at 9 knots, the area forecast valid at the time of the turbulence encounter forecast no significant turbulence, and there were no pilot reports of turbulence. The pilot indicated that prior to the severe turbulence; there had been no significant turbulence during the flight. An examination of the stabilator showed that the right half was bent downward 5 to 10 degrees outboard of the fuselage attachments. No evidence of fatigue or corrosion was found.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Environmental
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have altered course to avoid turbulence during cruise.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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