Piper PA-32R-301T N8370L

Summary

On 29 October 2010 at about 20:15 local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T registered N8370L was involved in an accident near Waterloo, Iowa, United States. 2 people were 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

29 October 2010 at 20:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Waterloo, Iowa, United States

Nearest airport

Private Airstrip

Coordinates

42.5498, -92.2899

Aircraft

Piper PA-32R-301T

Registration

N8370L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Waterloo → Olwein

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11LA048

Nobody was injured.

The separation of a stabilator control cable turnbuckle due to stress corrosion cracking, which resulted in a loss of airplane control during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During takeoff, the airplane did not respond to stabilator control inputs, and the pilot aborted the takeoff. During the aborted takeoff, the airplane went off the end of the runway and through a ditch, striking an embankment. A postaccident examination revealed that a stabilator control cable had failed at a turnbuckle fitting as a result of stress corrosion cracking, which resulted in a lack of up-stabilator control. The airplane was within the maintenance inspection requirements at the time of the accident, with the most recent annual inspection being completed about 1 year before the accident. The airplane service manual included a special control cable fitting inspection for airplanes in service 15 years or more. According to the service manual, any evidence of corrosion or cracking was cause for replacement.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.