Des Moines International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Des Moines, Iowa 50321
Wednesday, August 15, 2012 8:35 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The following is an INTERIM FACTUAL SUMMARY of this incident investigation. A final report that includes all pertinent facts, conditions, and circumstances of the incident will be issued upon completion, along with the Safety Board's analysis and probable cause. On August 15, 2012, about 0835 central daylight time, a Cessna 560XL, N108EK, diverted to Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa, following a loss of control during cruise at Flight Level (FL) 400. The two pilots and six passengers were not injured. The airplane sustained minor damage. The aircraft was registered to New Heights Aviation LLC and operated by Elliott Aviation under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Flying Cloud Airport (FCM), Flying Cloud, Minnesota, at 0748, with an intended destination of Arlington Municipal Airport (GKY), Arlington, Texas. The flight crew reported that after about 10 minutes of cruise flight at 40,000 feet pressure altitude, they observed an autopilot pitch trim mis-trim (AP Pitch Mis-trim) annunciation and associated master caution. As they began to reference the applicable checklist, the autopilot automatically disengaged and the airplane suddenly pitched down to about 20 degrees. The airspeed increased to about 30 knots over redline. The flight crew recovered and leveled the airplane at 33,000 feet pressure altitude. They subsequently elected to divert to DSM and landed without further incident. The autopilot was not used for the duration of the flight. However, the electric pitch trim was used passing 10,000 feet mean sea level and it functioned normally. The flight crew noted that an "abnormally high amount of water" was observed to be draining from the tailcone during the postflight inspection. The required pilot actions related to an AP Pitch Mis-trim annunciation were contained on page R-5 of the Pilots' Abbreviated Checklist – Emergency/Abnormal Procedures. The procedure called for: (1) AP Trim Disc Button – Press and Release (if elevator trim not in motion); Pitch Trim – Adjust (as required); and Autopilot – Engage (as desired). A postincident examination of the autopilot, pitch trim systems and two-position horizontal stabilizer system did not reveal any anomalies. The left and right elevator electric trim actuators and the autopilot elevator drive servo were subsequently replaced. The airplane was returned to service without any further difficulties.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 8/15/2012
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 835
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Des Moines
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 50321
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 413202N
Event Location Longitude 0933947W
Event Location Airport Des Moines International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DSM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 52
Degrees magnetic from airport 360
Airport Elevation 958
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 954 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID DSM
Elevation of weather observation facility 958
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 180
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
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) 29.92
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
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 8
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source Operator -- Elliott Aviation (
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2014 4:43PM
User who most recently changed record sort
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N108EK
NTSB Number CEN12IA554
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 560XL
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 560-5032
Certified Max Gross Weight 20000
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 AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Jun 29 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 595
Airframe Hours 4510
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name New Heights Aviation LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Burnsville
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55306-6936
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Elliott Aviation Flight Services Inc
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Des Moines
Operator State IA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 55347
Operator Code JEMA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number JEMA166F
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) Executive/Corporate
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FCM
Departure City Minneapolis
Departure State MN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 748
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GKY
Destination City Arlington
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 3 2014 10:22PM
User who most recently changed record sort
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --