Narrative:At approximately 19:51, Lodestar N1000F contacted the Buffalo Tower for taxi instructions and was cleared to runway 13, and shortly thereafter the flight was cleared for takeoff. N1000F departed Buffalo at 19:59. The flight operated routinely to the vicinity of Youngstown, Ohio. It reported over Youngstown at 20:51 at 8,000 feet, estimating arrival over the Briggs VOR at 21:09. Before reaching the VOR however, the aircraft lost its right wing in flight, crashed and burned in a field.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a malfunction of the electric elevator trim tab unit which resulted in aircraft uncontrollability and subsequent structural failure of the wing."
Accident investigation:
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Investigating agency: | CAB |
Status: | Investigation completed |
Accident number: | final report | Download report: | Final report
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Sources:
» CAB File No. 2-0347
Follow-up / safety actions
As a result of a recommendation made by the Board to the Federal Aviation Agency, an order for immediate deactivation of Spartan electric longitudinal trim systems in L-18 aircraft was issued by that Agency. This order was followed by a modification of S.T.C. SA2-183 which now requires a driving motor rated at 0.12 horsepower at 4000 r.p.m. as opposed to the original motor which produced 0.167 horsepower and operated at 8500 r.p.m. In addition, this modification limits the travel limits of the elevator trim tab to 5 degrees nosedown trim and 10 degrees noseup. All L-18 aircraft, in order to utilize the Spartan electric longitudinal trim system, must now comply with the provisions of this modification.
Photos
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.