Summary
On March 26, 1998, a Aero Commander 100 (N5530M) was involved in an accident near Fort Worth, TX. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The separation of the aileron control rod due to bending overstress. A factor was the unsuitable terrain available for the precautionary landing.
On March 26, 1998, at 1530 central standard time, an Aero Commander 100 airplane, N5530M, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a failure in the flight control system, during the initial climb from the Fort Worth Meacham International Airport, Fort Worth, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual. The pilot, sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight for which a flight plan was not filed.
The pilot reported the following events in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2). The airplane was positioned for take off from runway 16.
This accident is documented in NTSB report FTW98LA160. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N5530M.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The separation of the aileron control rod due to bending overstress. A factor was the unsuitable terrain available for the precautionary landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On March 26, 1998, at 1530 central standard time, an Aero Commander 100 airplane, N5530M, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a failure in the flight control system, during the initial climb from the Fort Worth Meacham International Airport, Fort Worth, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual. The pilot, sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight for which a flight plan was not filed.
The pilot reported the following events in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2). The airplane was positioned for take off from runway 16. The airplane became airborne and then "began to drift left of centerline." The pilot stated that he was making control inputs to bring the airplane back to the centerline at 100 feet above ground level, when he heard a "loud pop." He realized that the airplane was no longer responding to aileron control inputs. The 308 hour pilot was able to maintain directional control using rudder inputs and landed on grassy terrian, on airport property.
The owner of the airplane stated that he was not aware of any maintenance performed on the aileron control system prior to the accident.
An FAA inspector reported that the propeller was bent. The nose landing gear was bent rearward into the airframe. The left wing flap, aileron and wing tip were structurally damaged. A push-pull rod for aileron control was found separated at the connecting point to the bellcrank assembly, behind the left control yoke.
The fractured aileron push-pull rod was sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory in Washington, D.C., for examination. The fracture surfaces were observed to be rough and had a matte appearance along a shear plane. The rod exhibited bending deformation adjacent to the fracture. According to the metallurgist, these features are typical of an overstress separation. No evidence of pre-existing cracks, such as fatigue, was found.
At the time of the accident the Fort Worth International Airport was reporting the following weather conditions; clear skies, visibility 10 miles, and winds from 160 degrees at 23 knots with gusts to 37 knots.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# FTW98LA160