Cessna 208B N9304F

Summary

On 20 October 1997 at about 18:00 local time, a Cessna 208B registered N9304F, operated by Peninsula Airways Inc., was involved in an incident near Kasigluk, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 October 1997 at 18:00

Classification

Incident

Location

Kasigluk, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Kasigluk (Z09)

Coordinates

60.8698, -162.5396

Aircraft

Cessna 208B

Registration

N9304F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Peninsula Airways Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bethel → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC98IA004

Nobody was injured.

inadequate inspection of the aileron by company maintenance personnel, and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the aileron, which led to the jamming of the left aileron due to loose balance weight retaining screws.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was entering a left downwind for landing at a remote airport. The wind conditions were 25 knots with gusts to 35 knots. During the turn, the pilot utilized full aileron deflection, and noticed the aileron momentarily jammed. He was able to force the control wheel to the right, unjamming the aileron. After landing, the pilot began to taxi to the ramp. Due to a strong crosswind, the pilot deflected the ailerons fully to the left. The aileron once again jammed, and the pilot was unable to force the control wheel to the right. The airplane's ailerons utilize balance weights that are attached to the interior surface of the leading edge of the aileron. Five screws are inserted through the leading edge skin of the aileron, through the balance weight, and into self-locking nuts attached to a nut strip assembly. Company maintenance personnel reported 1 screw was missing. Three of the remaining 4 screws were loose, and backed out sufficient distance to contact the trailing edge of the wing, forward of the aileron. The left aileron was jammed in a full, leading edge down, position. The Cessna 208B pilot information manual details a preflight inspection that includes an examination of the ailerons as part of a walk-around inspection of the airplane. In addition, the balance weights should be inspected during every 100-hour inspection. A review of the manufacturer's service condition report data base, and the Federal Aviation Administration malfunction and defect report system did not reveal any other reported incidents of aileron jamming.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.