Port Columbus Iap Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Columbus, Ohio 43219
Monday, December 13, 2010 8:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the airplane's descent, the yaw damper disengaged while the autopilot remained on. When the flightcrew checked the flight controls for freedom of control, the ailerons, elevator, and rudder were found to be frozen in place. The flightcrew exerted enough pressure until the controls broke free with a “snap.” The flight controls remained stiff for the remainder of the flight. The temperature was -9 degrees C at the destination. Following a normal approach and landing, the flight controls and nosewheel steering became inoperative. The flightcrew used differential power and braking to taxi to the ramp. A postflight examination by maintenance personnel revealed ice in the area of frame 36 and around the primary flight control cables and pulleys in that area. An examination of the fuselage drain holes showed no obstructions and the airplane was returned to service. An emergency airworthiness directive was subsequently issued that advised of three incidents and that required inspection of the fuselage belly and testing of the fuselage drain holes.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of water to properly drain through the fuselage drain holes, thus becoming trapped and freezing around the flight control cables, which resulted in the loss of control authority to the airplane's ailerons, elevator, and rudder.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 12/13/2010
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Columbus
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 43219
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 395953N
Event Location Longitude 0825331W
Event Location Airport Port Columbus IAP
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CMH
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 815
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 851 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CMH
Elevation of weather observation facility 815
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.73
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KCMH 131351Z 31008KT 4SM -SN BR OVC022 M09/M12 A29
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29608
NTSB Notification Source Tim Monville, ERA Office
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 3 2012 11:51AM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N140SL
NTSB Number CEN11IA108
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91 Subpart K: Fractional
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIAGGIO
Aircraft Model P180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1107
Certified Max Gross Weight 12100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 8
Total number of seats on the aircraft 10
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Nov 5 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5006
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C126
Aircraft Owner Name AVIATION SERVICES LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address C/O AVANTAIR
Aircraft Owner City BEDFORD
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 01730
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Avantair, Inc.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Clearwater
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 33762
Operator Code V2JA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HPN
Departure City White Plains
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 700
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code CMH
Destination City Columbus
Destination State OH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 23 2011 4:11PM
User who most recently changed record male
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28L
Runway Length 10125
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --