NTSB: Loose Elevator Plug Caused Fatal Rob Holland Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board has determined that a loose elevator counterweight plug caused the fatal crash of aerobatic champion Rob Holland on April 24, 2025. According to the final report, the plug separated during flight and jammed between the elevator and the fixed horizontal stabilizer, resulting in a total loss of pitch control during the landing approach at Langley Air Force Base near Hampton, Virginia. Witnesses described the aircraft porpoising twice before pitching up sharply and rolling 90 degrees left prior to impact.

Investigators found that Holland's MX Aircraft MXS — registration N530RH — incorporated a custom modification to the elevator system allowing him to adjust the aircraft's control feel for different aerobatic routines. The system used threaded plugs to retain counterweights in the elevator assembly. The NTSB determined the arrangement lacked formal torque specifications, locking mechanisms or documented inspection intervals, characteristics of a pilot-specific field modification rather than a fully engineered production design.

In response to the findings, MX Aircraft has reportedly moved away from the adjustable plug design in favor of fixed counterweight solutions. The case underscores longstanding FAA concerns about the traceability and maintenance requirements of custom modifications to flight-critical control systems, particularly on high-performance aerobatic aircraft operating outside standard airworthiness frameworks.