Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 N6196L

Summary

On 26 February 2011 at about 22:35 local time, a Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 registered N6196L, operated by Frederick P. Fiala, was involved in an accident near Kingsville, Texas, 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

26 February 2011 at 22:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Kingsville, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Kleberg County (IKG)

Coordinates

27.5506, -98.0253

Aircraft

Great Lakes 2T-1A-2

Registration

N6196L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Frederick P. Fiala

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kingsville → Kingsville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11LA209

Nobody was injured.

A pre-existing crack in the front spar of the right horizontal stabilizer near a riveted fitting, causing it to fail and separate from the airplane in flight. Contributing to the accident was the failure of maintenance personnel comply with existing service bulletins and to detect and repair the damaged spar.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot took off to practice aerobatic maneuvers for an upcoming air show. After completing a hammerhead turn, he felt a slight vibration and the pitch control felt unusual. Returning to the airport, the vibration increased. The pilot landed but was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane ground-looped. The right horizontal stabilizer and elevator had separated from the airplane, striking the rudder and causing substantial damage. A postaccident examination revealed evidence of a pre-existing crack in the front spar near a riveted fitting. The spar moved outward and disengaged from the fitting. The inboard section rotated downward and separated from the airplane. The remaining portion of the stabilizer pivoted aft, separated from the airplane, and struck and damaged the rudder. A service alert from the airplane’s manufacturer outlined a similar previous occurrence. Another emphasized the importance of properly rigged tail wires, noting that if the tail wires were improperly rigged excessive torque loads could be applied to the horizontal stabilizer front spar, causing the attach fitting to fail. Examination of the last annual inspection entry disclosed no reference to the horizontal stabilizer spar being inspected, nor did it indicate that either service bulletin had been complied with.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.