Piper PA 32R-301 N8451E

Summary

On 14 June 2004 at about 02:45 local time, a Piper PA 32R-301 registered N8451E, operated by Richard Helminiak, was involved in an accident near Baxley, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 June 2004 at 02:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Baxley, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Baxley Municipal Airport (KBHC)

Coordinates

31.7136, -82.3936

Aircraft

Piper PA 32R-301

Registration

N8451E

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Richard Helminiak

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wauseon → Baxley

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ATL04LA126

1 person was seriously injured.

The mechanical malfunction of the autopilot pitch servo, and the pilot's inability to maintain adequate control pressure to manually retrim the pitch attitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While flying at 2300 feet, the pilot shut off the autopilot and immediately could not maintain pitch control and the airplane went into a series of uncontrollable gyrations. The pilot attempted to regain control of the airplane but was unsuccessful. The airplane collided with trees five miles west of Baxley Municipal Airport. During the post accident functional examination of the autopilot assembly disclosed that when the unit was engaged the pitch servo would only correct the pitch attitude in one direction. Internal examination of the pitch servo revealed that three transistors had been replaced and one transistor appeared original to the unit. Additionally, the functional check of the pitch trim servo solenoid revealed that the unit was not within the design specifications. According to the pilot operating handbook, if the autopilot is disengaged when opposing mistrim forces are encountered, the pilot may be required to exert control forces in excess of 50 pounds to maintain airplane attitude. The pilot will have to maintain this control force while he manually retrim the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.