Individually Owned: 151,845
Corporate Owned: 143,699
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 | -- |