Poplar Grove Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Poplar Grove, Illinois 61065
Wednesday, August 8, 2012 19:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported he made 10 landings during light and variable wind conditions, the first nine of which were uneventful; however, on the 10th landing there was a sudden uncontrolled “jerk” to the left. The pilot was unable to maintain control and the airplane departed the runway into the grass. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the lower right longeron tail-spring failed due to corrosion.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the lower right side longeron tail-spring support area during landing due to excessive corrosion.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/8/2012
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Poplar Grove
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 61065
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 421922N
Event Location Longitude 0885010W
Event Location Airport Poplar Grove Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID C77
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 858
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1854 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID RFD
Elevation of weather observation facility 742
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 7000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KRFD 082354Z 03007KT 10SM FEW047 BKN070 21/18 A299
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31077
NTSB Notification Source Pilot
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 7 2013 1:57PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1328L
NTSB Number CEN12LA531
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 RISTINE
Aircraft Model AVID MARK IV
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1328D
Certified Max Gross Weight 1150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Apr 5 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 360
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name Pilot
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City GENOA
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60135-8430
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Pilot
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City GENOA
Operator State IL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 60135-8430
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 C77
Departure City Poplar Grove
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1910
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code C77
Destination City Poplar Grove
Destination State IL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2013 5:51PM
User who most recently changed record male
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 3773
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --