Cessna 680 N531RC

Summary

On 12 January 2014 at about 22:15 local time, a Cessna 680 registered N531RC was involved in an incident near Wheeling, Illinois, United States. The number of people on board was not recorded. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 January 2014 at 22:15

Classification

Incident

Location

Wheeling, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

42.1142, -87.9017

Aircraft

Cessna 680

Registration

N531RC

Category

Airplane

Year built

2006

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling → Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14IA121

Injuries not recorded.

The disconnection of the left elevator trim driveshaft from the trim actuator due to the elevator trim tab drive pin becoming dislodged, which resulted in full nose-down elevator trim.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while climbing to 15,000 ft mean sea level, the autopilot disengaged and the autopilot disconnect chime sounded accompanied by an "AP fail A-B" message. At this point, the flight crew decided to return to the departure airport. The pilot noted that, while trying to slow the climb, "extra" force was required to push the airplane's nose down. He attempted to apply nose-down trim but felt no change and then noted that the elevator trim tab indicator was showing full nose-down trim. He subsequently landed the airplane without incident. Following the incident, the operator tested the stabilizer trim through its full range of travel and noted no discrepancy with the system or the elevator trim tab indicator. The operator contacted the manufacturer to assist in troubleshooting the problem. They found that the connecting pin linking the drive shaft to the left elevator trim tab actuator had become dislodged, which likely caused the left elevator trim driveshaft to disconnect from the trim actuator. The operator stated that it was aware that the elevator trim tab drive shaft pin on the same make and model airplane had dislodged on two previous occasions. The manufacturer is in the process of proposing changes to the drive pin dimensions and the method of securing the pin to prevent the elevator trim tab drive pin from dislodging.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.