Beechcraft E-90 N51DN

Summary

On 15 February 2011 at about 15:30 local time, a Beechcraft E-90 registered N51DN, operated by D-W Corporation, was involved in an accident near Des Moines, Iowa, United States. 2 people were 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

15 February 2011 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Des Moines, Iowa, United States

Coordinates

41.5339, -93.6631

Aircraft

Beechcraft E-90

Registration

N51DN

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

D-W Corporation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Des Moines → Des Moines

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11LA192

Nobody was injured.

The improper installation of the right aileron by maintenance personnel.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane had recently undergone maintenance, which included an inspection of the ailerons requiring removal, reinstallation, and a functional check. Prior to the test flight, the pilot performed a pre-flight inspection of the airplane and a flight control free and correct check with no anomalies noted. While executing a turn at flight level 180, the right aileron departed the airplane. The airplane landed without further incident. Examination of the airplane revealed the inboard and middle airframe aileron hinge brackets were attached to the aft spar, intact, and showed no visible damage. The outboard airframe aileron hinge bracket was pulled and separated from the aft spar. The aileron was not located. Based on the condition of the hinge brackets, the evidence indicated the aileron bolts were not properly engaged in the aileron nut plates which caused the bolts to fall out and the aileron to depart the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.