Beechcraft B35 N5001C

Summary

On 24 June 1996 at about 02:30 local time, a Beechcraft B35 registered N5001C was involved in an accident near Chesterfield, Missouri, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 June 1996 at 02:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Chesterfield, Missouri, United States

Coordinates

38.6492, -90.5806

Aircraft

Beechcraft B35

Registration

N5001C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jefferson City → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

CHI96LA235

Nobody was injured.

improperly balanced ruddervators and improperly installed ruddervator (elevator) trim tabs, due to improper maintenance, which resulted in ruddervator flutter and substantial damage in the area of the aft fuselage. Factors relating to the accident were: improper planning/decision by the owner/operator (pilot) by failing to ensure that the annual inspection and required aircraft maintenance were performed; and turbulence that led to vibration of the improperly balanced ruddervator.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot/owner reported that he was flying at 140 mph when he encountered light turbulence, and the airplane started to shake. The shaking lasted for about three seconds before the pilot/owner could reduce power and pull back on the yoke to slow the airplane. He then continued on to his destination where he made a normal landing. After landing, extensive damage was found in the area of the aft fuselage. An investigation revealed the airplane did not have a current annual inspection. There were pinholes in the pitot tube where it had been welded. The airspeed indicator was tested, and it did not meet specifications. The ruddervators were examined for proper balance and rigging. The service balance range for the ruddervators is 16.8 to 19.8 inch-pounds trailing edge heavy (underbalance). Using the counterbalance method, the underbalance of the left and right ruddervators was determined to be 22.53 and 22.68 inch-pounds, respectively. Both the left and right ruddervator trim tab hinge pins had been installed incorrectly. The incorrectly installed trim tabs exhibited significant vertical free play near the inboard end; the tabs also had restricted up and down angular travel. The ruddervator balance and the trim tab installation had been performed by two different aircraft maintenance facilities.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.