Beechcraft BE-A35 N8530A

Summary

On 31 July 2000 at about 03:00 local time, a Beechcraft BE-A35 registered N8530A was involved in an accident near Poplar Bluff, 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

31 July 2000 at 03:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Poplar Bluff, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

Poplar Bluff Municipal (POF)

Coordinates

36.7590, -90.3994

Aircraft

Beechcraft BE-A35

Registration

N8530A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Oshkosh → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CHI00LA238

Nobody was injured.

the pilot exceeded the VNE speed restriction of 144 MPH. Factors included the ruddervator flutter and the out of balance ruddervators.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported the airplane was in a descent in smooth air when he heard a loud noise and the airplane began shaking. It stopped when he pulled back on the yoke and pulled the throttle back. He reported he saw the airspeed indicator needle passing below 144 mph on the airspeed indicator after the shaking stopped. The aircraft inspection revealed the aft fuselage and empennage received damage. All four corners of the F.S. 256.9 bulkhead were cracked. The left and right ruddervator static underbalance was checked. The left and right ruddervators were 20.25 inch pounds. The acceptable limits for ruddervator underbalance is 16.8 to 19.8 inch pounds. The airplane's maintenance records were reviewed. The left and right ruddervators were reskinned on October 23, 1996. The ruddervators were primed but not painted. The recorded static underbalance for both ruddervators was 19.5 inch pounds. There was no documentation of any maintenance performed on the ruddervators since they were reskinned. The Airworthiness Directive (AD) 98-13-02 that placed a speed restriction of 144 MPH indicated airspeed on the Models 35, A35, B35, and 35R airplanes had been complied with. The inspection of the airplane revealed it had the required placard and red line on the airspeed that notified the pilot the new VNE speed was 144 MPH. The VNE speed prior to the AD was 204 MPH.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.