Aero Commander 200D N28PC

Summary

On 13 November 2001 at about 15:20 local time, a Aero Commander 200D registered N28PC, operated by Gerald Walker, was involved in an accident near Houston, Texas, 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

13 November 2001 at 15:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Houston, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

David Wayne Hooks Memorial (DWH)

Coordinates

29.6104, -95.1191

Aircraft

Aero Commander 200D

Registration

N28PC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Gerald Walker

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Houston → Mineral Wells

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW02LA032

Nobody was injured.

the failure of the left outboard elevator attachment, which resulted in the partial separation of the left elevator and induced an airframe vibration.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane departed on an IFR flight plan and ten minutes had elapsed when a vibration in the airframe was felt, which gradually intensified. The pilot observed that the horizontal stabilizer was shaking with more intensity than the rest of the airplane. The vibration continued to intensify to the degree that the cockpit instruments were unreadable. The pilot declared an emergency to air traffic control and initiated an emergency descent. He then slowed the airplane to 120 knots and the vibration subsided; however, the vibration was still apparent. Subsequently, the airplane landed, and when the pilot exited the airplane, he observed that the left elevator was hanging 3-4 inches low, at the outboard end. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the outboard left elevator hinge had separated from the horizontal stabilizer. A section of the aft spar had separated from the horizontal stabilizer and remained attached to the elevator hinge. Additionally, the left elevator trim tab push rod had separated in two places. Approximately 10 flight hours prior to the accident, several dents were found on the left elevator. The repair station reported that during the repair, rivets on a portion of the elevator were removed, and then replaced while the elevator remained attached the horizontal stabilizer. They added that no abnormal stresses were placed on the elevator hinge attachments during the repairs.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.