Titan TORNADO I N5131H

Summary

On 13 April 2017 at about 16:40 local time, a Titan TORNADO I registered N5131H was involved in an accident near Spanaway, Washington, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 April 2017 at 16:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Spanaway, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Spanaway (S44)

Coordinates

47.0817, -122.4283

Aircraft

Titan TORNADO I

Registration

N5131H

Category

Airplane

Year built

2006

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Spanaway → Auburn

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR17LA087

1 person was seriously injured.

Maintenance personnel’s improper attachment of the aileron system components, which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain flight control. 

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that after departure for the personal flight, the airplane climbed to about 200 ft above ground level but he could not maintain level flight; he had to apply full right aileron and right rudder. The airplane rolled left, and he simultaneously reduced the engine power and applied forward elevator in an attempt to arrest the roll. Despite his attempts, the pilot could not regain control of the airplane and deployed the ballistic recovery system parachute (BRS). The airplane touched down hard off the airport, and the nose landing gear collapsed. As a result of the impact, the pilot was unable to egress under his own power; the engine continued to run, and the BRS drifted into the propeller. The engine continued to operate until the BRS suspension lines stopped the propeller. The examination of the aileron system revealed that the control tube was disconnected from the control mixer weldment. The stop nut that normally is affixed to the bolt connecting the aileron control tube to the control yoke tube was found on the cabin floor. The bolt end had a hole for a cotter pin, but no cotter pin was located. There were no markings on the nylon insert of the stop nut, which is consistent with the nut not being adequately attached during assembly. During the last condition inspection, about 4 months and 24 flight hours before the accident, an airframe and powerplant mechanic had adjusted the aileron control mixer. It is likely that during that maintenance activity, the nylon hardware was not properly attached to the aileron control tube.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.