Rockwell 690A N57112

Summary

On 16 September 2012 at about 23:00 local time, a Rockwell 690A registered N57112, operated by Courtney Aviation, was involved in an accident near Ellensburg, Washington, United States. 3 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 September 2012 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Ellensburg, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Bowers Field Airport (ELN)

Coordinates

47.0264, -120.5250

Aircraft

Rockwell 690A

Registration

N57112

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Courtney Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ellensburg → Ellensburg

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12LA428

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to avoid a turbulent smoke column, which resulted in an overstress failure of the left aileron control rod.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while in a right turn at 7,500 feet mean sea level and above a land wildfire, the airplane entered a turbulent, dark, narrow, column of smoke. The pilot leveled the wings and continued flight through the turbulent column. When the airplane exited the column, the pilot noticed that he had to make a significant right flight control input to maintain level flight. He made a precautionary landing without further incident. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left aileron control rod was separated along the threaded portion of the shaft, about 2.5 inches from the rod end. Subsequent examination of both pieces of the aileron control rod revealed fracture surfaces consistent with overstress, with no indications of previous wear, fatigue, or corrosion. Thus, it is likely that the turbulence encountered while flying through the smoke column was sufficient to overstress the left aileron control rod.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.