On January 18, 1992, a Beech 35 (registration N3342V) operated by Richards, James D. was involved in an aviation accident near Nucla, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: IMPROPER STATIC BALANCE OF THE RUDDERVATORS FOLLOWING REBUILDING/REPAINTING, WHICH RESULTED IN EMPENNAGE FLUTTER. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During a cruise-descent in smooth air, flutter of the empennage caused cracks and skin wrinkling on the aft fuselage. Post-accident testing revealed excessive tail-heaviness in both ruddervators due to paint thickness and missing balancing washers.
Event Description
During a cruise-descent in smooth air, the empennage of the aircraft experienced flutter. This occurrence resulted in cracks at all four corners of the aft fuselage bulkhead and wrinkling of the fuselage skin in the area of the ruddervator attachment points.
Maintenance History
The left ruddervator had been installed on the airplane during an annual inspection several weeks before the accident. It had been removed for the installation of new skin. After the new skin was installed, the surface was repainted. Post-accident examination found that the paint thickness on this ruddervator exceeded the manufacturer's factory acceptance criteria.
Post-Accident Findings
Post-accident testing disclosed that the static balance of both ruddervators was excessively tail heavy. No lead balancing washers were found in either ruddervator counterweight housing.
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