Cessna 421A N2957Q

Summary

On 7 November 1997 at about 23:15 local time, a Cessna 421A registered N2957Q was involved in an accident near Tomahawk, Wisconsin, United States. One person was 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

7 November 1997 at 23:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Tomahawk, Wisconsin, United States

Coordinates

45.4705, -89.7204

Aircraft

Cessna 421A

Registration

N2957Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Poplar Grove

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

CHI98LA032

Nobody was injured.

the elevator trim tab bolt backed out, allowing the trim tab to flutter, and destroy the elevator. The factors involved were improper annual inspection by the maintenance personnel, and the inadequate aircraft preflight done by the pilot.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

On climb out at 11,000 feet at 700 feet per minute rate of climb on autopilot, the pilot heard a loud bang and felt a 'rapid vibration in the control yoke.' The pilot reported pitch trim was not available and said he checked the engines for proper operations. The flight landed without further incident. Examination of the aircraft revealed substantial damage to the right elevator and trim tab. The rear trim tab linkage bolt was missing and there was little damage to the yoke or trim tab bushing. Paint transfer marks were found on the trim tab from the elevator. An undersized cotter pin was found in the forward linkage bolt.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.