On January 20, 1995, a Piper PA-38-112 (registration N4279E) operated by HI Desert Airport was involved in an aviation accident near Joshua Tree, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The horizontal T-bar jammed against the attitude indicator hoses, inhibiting rearward movement of the flight control wheel. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A student pilot was unable to raise the elevators during takeoff ground roll and aborted the takeoff, but the remaining runway was insufficient to stop, leading to an overrun and nose gear collapse on rough terrain. Postaccident examination found the control column jammed by attitude indicator hoses.
Accident Summary
During the takeoff ground roll, the student pilot was unable to raise the elevators. The pilot aborted the takeoff, but the remaining runway length was insufficient to bring the airplane to a stop on the runway. The airplane overran the runway, and upon entering rough and uneven terrain, the nose gear collapsed.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination revealed that the horizontal 'T' bar had jammed against the attitude indicator hoses. This jamming inhibited rearward movement of the flight control wheel. The vacuum hoses and the avionics installation box brackets exhibited numerous rubbing and chafing signatures, indicating contact between components.
Maintenance History
A 100-hour or annual inspection had been accomplished two months before the accident. The airplane accrued 99 flight hours since that inspection.
Probable cause
The horizontal T-bar jammed against the attitude indicator hoses, inhibiting rearward movement of the flight control wheel.