Accident Details
On March 7, 2015, about 1130 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, N5385Y, impacted rising terrain near Merced, California, following a flight control stick malfunction. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The flight was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight had originated from Pine Mountain Lake Airport (E45) in Groveland, California, at 1100.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, as he applied back pressure to the flight control stick to climb over an approaching hill, the control stick separated at the stub. He attempted to reinsert the control stick onto the stub while simultaneously adding power, but the airplane impacted the terrain, slid, and came to rest along the hillside.
Examination of Control Stick
According to the manufacturer's service manual, the flight control stick is constructed from tubular steel and extends to the floor of the airplane, where it slides over a stub. A through bolt secures the control stick to the stub. Photographs of the control stick revealed that the through bolt was still secured to the control stick but not to the stub. There was no damage or deformation to the control stick or the through bolt. Photographs of the stub also showed no deformation or damage; the hole designated for the through bolt was not damaged or elongated.
Aircraft Maintenance
The airplane's most recent maintenance was an annual inspection performed on December 19, 2014. Since that inspection, the airplane had flown approximately 33 hours.