Piper PA-31T-620 N131AF
5 November 1992 · Medford, Oregon, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 5 November 1992 at about 10:30 local time, a Piper PA-31T-620 registered N131AF, operated by Ameriflight Inc., was involved in an incident near Medford, Oregon, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 10:30
- Classification
- Incident
- Location
- Medford, Oregon, United States
- Coordinates
- 42.2795, -122.9008
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31T-620
- Registration
- N131AF
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Ameriflight Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Portland → Oakland
- Aircraft damage
- Not recorded
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- LAX93IA029
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE ELEVATOR CONTROL TUBE ROD END BEARING RESULTING IN A LOSS OF ELEVATOR CONTROL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT FLIGHT LEVEL 230, THE AIRPLANE SUDDENLY PITCHED UP AND THE AUTOPILOT DISENGAGED. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE AIRPLANE WITH THE CONTROL YOKE. USING POWER AND TRIM CONTROL, HE FINALLY REGAINED CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT SACRAMENTO WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE THREADED PORTION OF THE ROD END BEARING, P/N 49261-02, HAD SEPARATED AT THE POINT WHERE THE THREADS ARE INSERTED INTO THE AFT END OF THE ELEVATOR CONTROL TUBE ASSEMBLY, P/N 40847-07. THE ELEVATOR CONTROL TUBE CONNECTS TO THE ELEVATOR PITCH HORN. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION SHOWED THAT THE SEPARATION WAS DUE TO A FATIGUE FAILURE. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN INSPECTED AT 37 HRS AND 134 HRS BEFORE THE INCIDENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN APPROVED AIRCRAFT INSPECTION PROGRAM. NEITHER INSPECTION SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED AN INSPECTION OF THE ELEVATOR CONTROL TUBE ASSEMBLY.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-31T accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Feb 1992 | Piper PA-31T-II | Big Bear, California, United States | Andrew & Williamson Sales Co. | Fatal | 7 |
| 10 Jun 1992 | Piper PA-31T | Addison, Texas, United States | RR Investments | No injuries | - |
| 31 Jan 1992 | Piper PA-31T | Swanton, Ohio, United States | Testa, Thomas J. | Fatal | 3 |
| 31 Mar 1991 | Piper PA-31T | Kenai, Alaska, United States | South Central Air, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 2 Dec 1993 | Piper PA-31T | Norwich, Ohio, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 22 Sep 1991 | Piper PA-31T-620 | Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States | Brazos Roofing Intl., Inc. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 May 1992 | Cessna T210L | Prineville, Oregon, United States | Patrick, Scott W. | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 May 1992 | Hughes 369E | Hillsboro, Oregon, United States | Hillsboro Helicopters Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 4 May 1992 | Cessna 172N | Parkdale, Oregon, United States | Vancouver Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 27 Nov 1992 | Hughes 369HS | Scotts Mills, Oregon, United States | Kenram Corp | No injuries | - |
| 7 May 1992 | Cessna 150F | Gold Beach, Oregon, United States | Crook, Franklin T. | No injuries | - |
| 14 May 1992 | Brantly-Hynes B-2B | Hood River, Oregon, United States | Borgardt, William | No injuries | - |