Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18 DROMADER N7070L

Summary

On 26 August 2011 at about 17:52 local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18 DROMADER registered N7070L was involved in an accident near Freeport, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 August 2011 at 17:52

Classification

Accident

Location

Freeport, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Albertus Airport (FEP)

Coordinates

42.2347, -89.5900

Aircraft

Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18 DROMADER

Registration

N7070L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Freeport → Freeport

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11LA605

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's decision to operate the airplane with a known defect in the elevator control system that led to his inability to control the airplane during the initial climb.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the airplane would not climb after takeoff, and it stalled, impacted the field, and then nosed over. Postaccident examination revealed that the forward elevator push rod was bent. The bend did not appear to have occurred during impact. Further examination revealed that the up elevator travel was 15 degrees. Manufacturer specifications called for 27 degrees of up elevator travel. Marks on the aft elevator push rod indicated that a plier’s tool had been improperly used on the push rod, which left marks from the tool and a dent in the push rod. A shipment for the pilot/owner arrived at the airport after the accident that contained a new elevator push rod. The shipping label indicated that the package was shipped on the day of the accident. Based on this evidence, it is likely that the up elevator travel was limited and that the pilot was aware of this defect prior to the accident flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.