Cessna 182P N696SP

Summary

On 1 April 2003 at about 16:30 local time, a Cessna 182P registered N696SP was involved in an incident near Eufaula, Alabama, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 April 2003 at 16:30

Classification

Incident

Location

Eufaula, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Weedon Field (EUF)

Coordinates

31.9511, -85.1289

Aircraft

Cessna 182P

Registration

N696SP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Belmont → Adel CookCounty

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL03IA073

Nobody was injured.

Fatigue failure of end rib for the left canard flap.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The purpose of the personal flight was undetermined. While in cruise flight at 5000 feet, the pilot noticed the elevators on the canard wings vibrating abnormally. The vibrations increased throughout the airplane and the left canard was observed hanging down. The pilot reported the airplane's condition to Columbus Approach Control, and requested radar vectors to the nearest airport, Weedon Field, Eufaula, Alabama. The flight landed without further incident. The airplane was a 1973 model Cessna 182P. It was refurbished in 1998 when the canard was added through STC #SA485SW. The pilot did report the airplane having a mechanical malfunction with the nose control assembly left hand canard elevator. The part had a total time of 453 hours on it. The post-landing examination of the airplane revealed a separation of the left canard elevator bell crank from the elevator. The bell crank fasteners were intact. Further examination of the airplane revealed the end rib for the left canard flap was fractured at the location where the left control rod attachment bracket was attached. Wear was observed on the left control rod end fitting. The fatigue features emanated from multiple origins at both the exterior and interior sides of the end rib, consistent with reverse-bending fatigue.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.