Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jacksonville, Illinois 62651
Sunday, June 4, 1995 11:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HIS EN ROUTE ALTITUDE WAS 4,500 FT MSL, AND THAT HE ENCOUNTERED NO TURBULENCE. HE BEGAN A 150-155 MPH DESCENT BY REDUCING POWER TO 20 INCHES AND APPLYING LIGHT FORWARD PRESSURE TO THE YOKE. HE FELT A VIOLENT SHUDDER AND RELEASED THE PRESSURE ON THE YOKE, WHICH STOPPED THE SHUDDER. INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED BUCKLED AND WRINKLED SKIN, POPPED RIVETS, AND BULKHEAD CRACKS. THE RUDDERVATORS HAD IMPROPER HARDWARE INSTALLED, A LOOSE BEARING, AND IMPROPERLY INSTALLED ELEVATOR TRIM TABS. THE RUDDERVATORS WERE TESTED FOR BALANCE. THE RIGHT RUDDERVATOR HAD A BALANCE OF 19.26 INCH-POUNDS AND THE LEFT RUDDERVATOR HAD A BALANCE OF 20.05 INCH-POUNDS. THE RIGHT RUDDERVATOR WAS WITHIN THE BALANCE LIMITS OF 16.8 TO 19.8 INCH-POUNDS, AND THE LEFT RUDDERVATOR WAS OUT OF BALANCE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

improper maintenance and inspection of the airplane's ruddervators.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/4/1995
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City JACKSONVILLE
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 62651
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 15
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 950 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID SPI
Elevation of weather observation facility 597
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 15000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1417
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 4 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1501
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:19PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8640A
NTSB Number CHI95LA186
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model A35
Aircraft Series Identifier A35
Aircraft Serial Number D2050
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 2469
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FREDRICK B. KNUTSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 123 N. WALNUT ST.
Aircraft Owner City SPRINGFIELD
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 62702
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MDH
Departure City CARBONDALE
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code IJX
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --