On September 4, 2006, a Bellanca 7GCAA (registration N5501A) operated by Obrien Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Farmingdale, NC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An inadequate annual inspection of the airplane, which resulted in a total failure of the elevator cable during flight, and subsequent uncontrolled descent into terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a banner pick-up at about 400 feet AGL, the elevator cable separated, causing the airplane to pitch down and impact a field. Examination revealed rust and corrosion on a 2-foot section of the cable.
Incident Details
While conducting a banner pick-up maneuver at approximately 400 feet above ground level, the elevator cable failed. The airplane subsequently pitched nose-down and struck a field.
Examination Findings
Post-accident inspection of the aircraft revealed that a section of the failed elevator cable, about 2 feet in length, exhibited rust and corrosion. The condition of the corrosion was consistent with prolonged exposure to moisture.
Maintenance History
A review of the aircraft's maintenance records indicated that the last annual inspection had been completed approximately 10 months prior to the accident. At the time of that inspection, the airplane had accumulated about 5,172 total flight hours. Since the inspection, it had flown approximately 120 hours. The maintenance logs noted that the cables had been lubricated, but there was no documented detection of rust or corrosion during the inspection.