Cessna 310Q N8FH

Summary

On 14 December 2006 at about 18:10 local time, a Cessna 310Q registered N8FH was involved in an accident near Montgomery, New York, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 December 2006 at 18:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Montgomery, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Orange County Airport (MGY)

Coordinates

41.4903, -74.2497

Aircraft

Cessna 310Q

Registration

N8FH

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Montgomery → Morristown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC07FA047

1 person died.

Improper maintenance performed on the airplane by maintenance personnel, and the failure of the mechanic with an inspection authorization (IA) to verify the maintenance work performed, which resulted in a reverse elevator trim system, and subsequent loss of control and collision with trees during the initial climb from takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The accident flight was the airplane's first flight after an annual inspection was completed. After takeoff, the airplane's pitch oscillated as it climbed approximately 200 to 500 feet agl. The airplane then made a left turn, descended, and impacted trees upright. Review of maintenance records, and an interview with a mechanic that worked on the airplane, revealed that the airplane's elevator trim actuator was removed and replaced as part of the maintenance associated with the annual inspection. In total, four mechanics worked on the airplane, one of which held and inspector authorization (IA), and endorsed the aircraft logbooks at the completion of the annual inspection. Examination of the right horizontal stabilizer revealed that the upper elevator trim cable crossed the lower elevator trim cable as they traveled from the elevator trim actuator, to the pulley located at the center of the empennage. Review of a Cessna Aircraft Company Illustrated Parts Catalog revealed that there should be no crossing of the elevator trim cables traveling from the elevator trim actuator, to the pulley at the center of the empennage. In addition, the elevator trim tab was found in the full (10-degree) nose down position.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.