Alexander Thomas P SPORTSMAN GS-2 N209TP

Summary

On 18 April 2009 at about 00:10 local time, a Alexander Thomas P SPORTSMAN GS-2 registered N209TP, operated by Alexander Thomas P, was involved in an accident near El Dorado HIlls, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 April 2009 at 00:10

Classification

Accident

Location

El Dorado HIlls, California, United States

Coordinates

38.6667, -121.0500

Aircraft

Alexander Thomas P SPORTSMAN GS-2

Registration

N209TP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Alexander Thomas P

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rancho Marieta → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR09LA202

1 person died.

The in-flight separation of the elevator control torque tube rod end bearing from the elevator torque tube as a result of incorrectly tightened rod end bearing lock nuts.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses monitoring the accident flight's departure airport common traffic advisory frequency reported that they heard a mayday radio transmission stating that "I've lost elevator control" and "I'm going down in some trees." Witnesses adjacent to the accident site reported hearing a loud whining noise followed by the sound of something impacting trees. One witness stated that the airplane was at a low altitude in an upright attitude when it struck trees. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain and came to rest near a residential structure where a post-crash fire consumed most of the fuselage. Post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed that the elevator torque tube was disconnected from the forward rod end bearing. The forward rod end bearing remained attached to the elevator bell crank assembly. No damage was observed on the forward torque tube rod end threads or forward rod end bearing threads. The forward torque tube rod end jam nut was observed threaded about one-half inch from the threaded rod end. The aft torque tube jam nut and torque tube rod end was observed against the aft rod end bearing. The aft torque tube rod end was slightly bent and did not allow movement. No evidence of "torque seal" was observed on the forward or aft jam nuts, rod end bearings, or torque tube assembly. No additional mechanical anomalies were noted with the recovered airframe.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.