Piper PA-34-220T N4145B

Summary

On 5 August 2024 at about 16:00 local time, a Piper PA-34-220T registered N4145B was involved in an accident near Minden, Nevada, 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

5 August 2024 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Minden, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Minden-Tahoe (MEV)

Coordinates

39.0005, -119.7511

Aircraft

Piper PA-34-220T

Registration

N4145B

Category

Airplane

Year built

1999

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR24LA268

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s improper preflight inspection of the stabilator trim position, which resulted in a porpoised landing. Contributing to the accident was the maintenance personnel’s improper maintenance of the stabilator trim shaft.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the accident flight was the first flight since the airplane had undergone a recent annual inspection. During the preflight inspection, the pilot conducted a functional check of the stabilator trim with the electric trim control but did not visually verify the stabilator trim position. During the takeoff roll, the pilot noted an anomaly with the stabilator and aborted the takeoff shortly after rotation. During the landing, the airplane porpoised several times and the nose landing gear collapsed. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the stabilator trim wheel indicator was found in the full nose-down position. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit flight controls to the respective flight control surfaces. Binding was noted when using the stabilator trim wheel and force was needed to rotate the stabilator trim control wheel to the natural position. The examination of the stabilator trim shaft revealed a lack of lubrication and excessive wear on the upper- and lower-barrel mount bearings. The mechanic who conducted the annual inspection reported that no anomalies were noted with the flight controls or the stabilator trim controls. The mechanic reported that he moved the stabilator trim controls to the full nose up position, lubricated the stabilator trim shaft, and then ran the stabilator trim to the full nose down position. During the lubrication of the stabilator trim controls, the mechanic operated the controls while the apprentice lubricated the stabilator trim shaft. However, the apprentice who assisted in the annual inspection reported that he did not recall lubricating the stabilator trim controls. The binding and lack of lubrication on the stabilator trim shaft indicated that the inspection and the lubrication was not conducted in accordance with the manufacturer’s maintenance manual. The anomaly noted in the stabilator by the pilot was likely the trim position being in the full nose-down position and not in the neutral position as per the pilot’s operating handbook.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.