Cirrus SR20 N67Y

Summary

On 27 May 2018 at about 22:15 local time, a Cirrus SR20 registered N67Y was involved in an accident near Katy, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 May 2018 at 22:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Katy, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Houston Executive Airport (TME)

Coordinates

29.7808, -95.9504

Aircraft

Cirrus SR20

Registration

N67Y

Category

Airplane

Year built

2003

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Katy → McKinney

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN18LA195

1 person had minor injuries.

The loss of airplane control on takeoff due to the absence of the attachment bolt for the left aileron actuation arm.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that immediately after takeoff, the airplane began to roll to the left. He attempted to counteract the roll with right aileron input but could not control the rolling motion; the airplane continued to roll to the left. The pilot continued to use right aileron and trim, lowered the nose, and executed a forced landing in a field adjacent to the departure airport. Examination of the wreckage showed that the left aileron actuation arm and attachment bolt were missing; there was no associated impact damage. Impact marks were present on the inboard hinge consistent with the aileron striking it. No distress or markings were found in the hole for the attachment bolt. The bolt or remnants of safety wire were not found. The pilot reported that he had flown the airplane the day before the accident and noted no problems with the flight controls. The most recent annual inspection and maintenance documents did not show any work performed on the ailerons. It could not be determined when the bolt came loose from the attachment. The absence of the bolt would severely affect aileron flight control as reported by the pilot, allowing the aileron to rotate freely around the hinge point with no connection to the flight controls. After the accident, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an aviation maintenance alert advising owners and operators of SR20 and SR22 airplanes to visually inspect the bolt for the aileron actuation arm for the presence of a safety wire.  

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.