Beechcraft A36 N808NH

Summary

On 27 June 2001 at about 17:10 local time, a Beechcraft A36 registered N808NH, operated by International Flight Training Academy, Inc., was involved in an incident near Bakersfield, California, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 June 2001 at 17:10

Classification

Incident

Location

Bakersfield, California, United States

Nearest airport

Meadows Field (BFL)

Coordinates

35.4336, -119.0569

Aircraft

Beechcraft A36

Registration

N808NH

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

International Flight Training Academy, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bakersfield → Bakersfield

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX01IA241

Nobody was injured.

During landing approach, mechanical binding of the elevator control cable occurred due to a contract mechanic's improper maintenance.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the landing approach on an instructional flight, the certified flight instructor (CFI) initiated a go-around and experienced restricted elevator control movement. The elevator control became partially jammed in a nose low and then a nose high position. Roll and yaw control was not affected. Using considerable force, the CFI maintained airplane control and landed without additional incident. Thereafter, the airplane was inspected. Evidence of mechanical binding to the elevator pitch control cables was noted. Specifically, a screwdriver was found wedged between the nose gear actuator retract rod and the elevator control cables beneath the forward spar cover, between and under the pilots' seats. When the nose gear retracted, the nose gear actuator retract rod moved the screwdriver against the elevator control cable resulting in binding. Upon removal of the screwdriver, the elevator operation was normal. Two days prior to the incident, a contract mechanic had performed maintenance on the airplane. The maintenance required taking off the forward spar cover to allow removal and installation of a flap motor gearbox assembly and flap flex drives. Since this maintenance, the airplane had been operated 5.8 flight hours.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.