Beechcraft 58 N15MD

Summary

On 26 August 2016 at about 13:50 local time, a Beechcraft 58 registered N15MD, operated by Cobra Kai Flight Academy, was involved in an accident near Wichita Falls, Texas, 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

26 August 2016 at 13:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Wichita Falls, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Kickapoo Downtown (CWC)

Coordinates

33.9889, -98.4919

Aircraft

Beechcraft 58

Registration

N15MD

Category

Airplane

Year built

1974

Engines

2

Operator

Cobra Kai Flight Academy

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wichita Falls → Wichita Falls

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN16CA359

Nobody was injured.

The incorrect maintenance of the airplane's ventilation system which resulted in an obstruction of the elevator control system.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during a maintenance test flight, when the airplane reached rotation speed on takeoff, he applied elevator control to rotate. The elevator control could not be moved sufficiently aft for rotation and liftoff, and the pilot aborted the takeoff. During the aborted takeoff, the airplane travelled off the departure end of the runway and came to a stop on an airport access road. The airplane's left main landing gear collapsed and the left wing was bent during the accident. The pilot reported that he had performed a control system check prior to the flight and that the controls functioned normally during that check. Examination of the airplane revealed that the elevator control operated normally after the accident, but further examination revealed that a plastic elbow fitting for the windshield defroster duct was loose and could be rotated into a position that obstructed full motion of the control yoke. Examination of the elbow revealed that it was not an approved part and appeared to be the type of plastic elbow found in home supply stores. The recent maintenance performed was not in the area where the plastic elbow was located.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.