Bellanca 7GCAA N5501A

Summary

On 4 September 2006 at about 14:45 local time, a Bellanca 7GCAA registered N5501A, operated by Obrien Aviation, was involved in an accident near Farmingdale, North Carolina, United States. One person was 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

4 September 2006 at 14:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Farmingdale, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Monmouth Executive Airport (BLM)

Coordinates

35.6309, -79.8056

Aircraft

Bellanca 7GCAA

Registration

N5501A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Obrien Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Banner Tow

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Farmingdale → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC06CA218

Nobody was injured.

An inadequate annual inspection of the airplane, which resulted in a total failure of the elevator cable during flight, and subsequent uncontrolled descent into terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a banner pick-up, about 400 feet agl, the elevator cable separated. The airplane then pitched down and impacted a field. Examination of the airplane revealed rust and corrosion on an approximate 2-foot section of the failed elevator cable. The rust and corrosion were consistent with exposure to moisture over a period of time. Review of aircraft maintenance records revealed that the last annual inspection was completed about 10 months prior to the accident. The airplane had accumulated about 5,172 total hours of operation at the last annual inspection, and about 120 hours of operation since the inspection. The maintenance records noted that the cables were lubricated, but there was no record of rust or corrosion being detected.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.