Event Summary
On July 14, 2015, at about 1456 central standard time, a Cessna 182B airplane, registration N2764G, was substantially damaged when it struck terrain after the pilot abandoned the aircraft due to flight control problems. The aircraft was registered to Cook Aviation of St. Louis, Missouri. At the time of impact, there were no occupants on board. The skydive flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from Festus Memorial Airport (FES), Festus, Missouri, at approximately 1415.
Flight and Pilot Actions
The pilot had picked up four skydivers at FES. After climbing to 3,800 feet, one skydiver deployed, and at 11,000 feet, the remaining three skydivers deployed. According to the pilot, the procedure for deploying skydivers involved setting 10° of flaps prior to their exit. After the last skydiver left, the pilot closed the door and began retracting the flaps from 10° to 0°. He then heard a metallic snap noise, and the airplane entered a spin. The pilot recovered from the spin at about 7,000 feet and discovered that the right flap was partially deployed at about 5° down and appeared crooked in its track. Additionally, he noted a vibration from the right flap and restricted aileron control, making lateral control difficult.
Communicating via radio with an airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic based at FES, the pilot discussed the flap malfunction. He attempted a straight-in landing at FES but initiated a go-around when he could not maintain lateral control as the airplane slowed on approach. He then tried to change the flap position, but only the left flap responded; the right flap remained at the 5° position. After approximately 30 minutes of struggling to control a slow spin, the pilot and mechanic determined that the pilot should bail out. The pilot maneuvered the airplane over unpopulated rural farmland east of FES, shut down the engine, and parachuted. He watched the airplane circle after his parachute deployed. The aircraft impacted a bluff with no post-impact fire. The pilot sustained no injuries.
Aircraft Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the top outboard section of the right wing showed evidence of pre-impact contact with the bottom inboard side of the right aileron, with about 1/2 inch of rubbed exposed primer in the contact area. The right flap appeared misaligned in its track; its outboard portion would not freely extend from the retracted position, and while the outboard side was retracted, the inboard side was extended. A broken control cable was found inboard of the flap bell crank, dirty and rusty in the area of the break. The right flap also showed pre-impact evidence of contact with the right aileron. Due to impact forces, the pre-impact condition of the flap rollers and tracks could not be determined. A review of maintenance records indicated no recent work on the flap control system. The aircraft had received an annual inspection on May 18, 2015, and had flown about 80 hours since that inspection.