Vans RV-12 | N412JN
June 6th, 2024 | Auburn, Washington
Accident Location
- City: Auburn
- State: Washington
- Latitude: 47.311494
- Longitude: -122.23403
- Airport ID: S50
Aircraft Info
- N Number: N412JN
- Make: Vans
- Model: RV-12
- Aircraft Category: Aircraft Single Engine Land
- Amateur Built: Yes
Pilot Info
- PIC Name: Norling, Jesse
- Gender: Male
- Pilot Age: 43
- Pilot Hours:
- Flight School: No
- Instructional Flight: No
- Pilot Certification: Private Pilot
- IFR Rating: No
- Pilot Error: No
- Pilot Medical: Basic Med
- Pilot Incapacitation: No
Analysis
- Date: June 6th, 2024
- Time: 12:00 PM Local Time
- Day / Night: Day
- VMC / IMC: VMC
- Phase Of Flight: Approach
- Total People Onboard: 1
- PIC Fatality: 1
- PAX Fatalities: 0
- Ground Fatalities: 0
- Total Fatalities: 1
- NTSB No: WPR24FA182
- NTSB Travel: Yes
- AQP Classification: 17) FAILED FLT CONTROL SYSTEM, U-FIT
Probable Cause
DTSB: The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be a failure of one or more primary flight controls in flight, in that left control stick pushrod (F1264-1) was found to be not connected to the inboard eyebolt bearing (CM-4MS) at the flaperon mixer bellcrank. The positioning was such that it had previously maintained a proper connection, but was not secure. The control stick push rod separated from the eyebolt bearing in flight, causing an uncontrolled left descending turn, for which the pilot could not correct in flight. The pilot did declare an emergency on the Unicom frequency stating “I just had a control failure.”
NTSB: NONE
Recommendation
DTSB: The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft perform proper and periodic inspections of all critical flight control cables and rigging, especially for homebuilt and experimental aircraft that may not have been properly assembled and inspected, or that have hardware that could possibly work its way loose after a period of operation. The DTSB recommends castellated nuts and safety pins on all critical flight control hardware.
NTSB: NONE
DISCLAIMER: All data and Probable Cause listings are “Probable” only. They are based on opinion and educated speculation, and are for educational purposes only. They may contain incorrect information and are subject to change as new information becomes available.