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LAX92LA252

1992-03-28 · NEWHALL, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

IMPROPER RUDDERVATOR BALANCING THAT RESULTED IN RUDDERVATOR FLUTTER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INSUFFICIENT MAINTENANCE INFORMATION TO ASSURE THAT AD COMPLIANCE AND ELEVATOR BALANCING WAS PERFORMED, AND AN INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION PROCEDURE THAT ASSURED PROPER MAINTENANCE COMPLIANCE.

Factual narrative

DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE OWNER/PILOT AND AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT WERE DESCENDING THROUGH A HOLE IN AN OVERCAST AT 135 KNOTS. THE V-TAIL DESIGNED AIRPLANE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED 4 VIOLENT PITCH OSCILLATIONS. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT, WHO WAS FLYING THE AIRPLANE, REDUCED AIRSPEED AND LEVELED THE WINGS. THIS ACTION STOPPED THE PITCH OSCILLATIONS. A POST FLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE REAR FUSELAGE BULKHEAD, WRINKLING OF THE EMPENNAGE SKIN AND LOSS OF PAINT. THE AIRPLANE DID NOT HAVE ANY PLACARDED AIRSPEED RESTRICTIONS OR A VERIFICATION OF PROPER WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATIONS. THE OWNER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY DOCUMENTATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE AD, OR OF PROPER BALANCING OF THE LEFT RUDDERVATOR THAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY EXCHANGED AND INSTALLED. THE MANUFACTURER REPORTED THAT THE EMPENNAGE DAMAGE WAS TYPICAL OF RUDDERVATOR FLUTTER. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1992_LAX92LA252.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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