Private Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Waterloo, Iowa 50703
Friday, October 29, 2010 15:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During takeoff, the airplane did not respond to stabilator control inputs, and the pilot aborted the takeoff. During the aborted takeoff, the airplane went off the end of the runway and through a ditch, striking an embankment. A postaccident examination revealed that a stabilator control cable had failed at a turnbuckle fitting as a result of stress corrosion cracking, which resulted in a lack of up-stabilator control. The airplane was within the maintenance inspection requirements at the time of the accident, with the most recent annual inspection being completed about 1 year before the accident. The airplane service manual included a special control cable fitting inspection for airplanes in service 15 years or more. According to the service manual, any evidence of corrosion or cracking was cause for replacement.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The separation of a stabilator control cable turnbuckle due to stress corrosion cracking, which resulted in a loss of airplane control during takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/29/2010
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1515
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Waterloo
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 50703
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Private Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1454 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 348
Weather Observation Facility ID ALO
Elevation of weather observation facility 873
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.13
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KALO 291654Z AUTO 19011KT 10SM CLR 07/M02 A3
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29498
NTSB Notification Source FAA-CEN-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2011 2:35PM
User who most recently changed record brajo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8370L
NTSB Number CEN11LA048
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32R-301T
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 32R-8129060
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name OPPOLD FLYING SERVICE INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City WATERLOO
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 50701
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Robert Oppold
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City WATERLOO
Operator State IA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 50701
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Waterloo
Departure State IA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1515
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OLZ
Destination City Olwein
Destination State IA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2011 2:21PM
User who most recently changed record brajo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 09
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --