Accident Description
Witnesses stated that immediately after the airplane became airborne, it initiated a steeply banked left turn and descended, striking a tree and then the ground.
Examination Findings
Examination of the flight control system revealed a broken right aileron bracket and a tear in the sheet metal aft of this bracket. A metallurgical examination determined that this damage occurred prior to the accident.
Maintenance and Pre-Accident Observations
The airplane's annual inspection was overdue by one month. The Piper service manual and bulletins recommend regular inspection of the bellcrank assembly. Two days before the accident, a friend of the pilot, who is also a private pilot, observed the right aileron of N35826 flapping up and down during a wind and rain storm. The left aileron remained streamlined.
Expert Opinion
Ed Hatt, a restorer of J5A aircraft, stated in his report, "It is my opinion... that the nut 'hung' on the torn trailing edge... jamming the aileron bellcrank and causing a loss of aileron control."