N438BA
Registered owner: CIVIL AIR PATROL, AL (owner ≠ operator)
Operators of this aircraft
Who operated this tail, and how firmly we know it.
| Operator | Role | Period | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIVIL AIR PATROL | Operator | on 2023-06-03 | Operator named in NTSB report |
Accident & incident history
Maintenance disclosures
DURING ROUTINE INSPECTION, (2) SMALL CRACKS WERE DISCOVERED ON RIB 3 UPPER FLANGE, LT WING. THIS IS THE SECOND RECENT OCCURRENCE.
FIRST LONGERON (N434BA) WAS FOUND CRACKED AT THE ELEVATOR TRIM GUIDE ATTACH POINT, NEAR THE RCP LT RUDDER PEDAL, DURING A SCHEDULED INSPECTION. SUBSEQUENT FINDINGS OCCURRED AS RESULT OF QUALITY DEPARTMENT ISSUING A ONE TIME INSPECTION OF ALL MDS. IT LOOKS AS IF THE OPERATOR, IN THE REAR COCKPIT (RCP), MAY BE STRIKING THE ELEVATOR TRIM GUIDE WITH HIS/HER FOOT WHILE ACTUATING THE RUDDER PEDAL - CAUSING THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE (LONGERON) TO WEAKEN AND FORM CRACKS AT THE ATTACH SCREWS.
RIGHT RUDDER CABLE FOUND FRAYED AT FORWARD AND AFT PULLEYS.
RADIAL CRACKS ARE BEING FOUND FLEETWIDE ON WING-TIP FAIRINGS.THERE HAVE BEEN NO COMPLETE FAILURES AT THIS TIME. FACTORY ADVISES WING TIPS ARE DESIGNED TO FAIL ON SIDE LOADS TO PREVENT MAJOR DAMAGE TO WING SPAR.
RUDDER PEDAL LOST VERTICAL STABILTY AND THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO MAINTENANCE. MAINTENANCE INSPECTED THE AREA AND FOUND THE SAFETY RING,WHICH HOLDS THE RUDDER PEDAL ATTACH SHAFT TO THE FUSELAGE FITTING, MISSING. AN INSPECTION WAS MADE TO FIND THE RING, AND DETERMINED IT WAS NOT IN THE AIRCRAFT. MAINTENANCE QUESTIONED IF IT WAS INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY, WHICH INITIATED A FLEET WIDE ONE TIME INSPECTION. TWO MORE AIRCRAFT WERE FOUND TO BE MISSING THE SAFETY RINGS.THESE ARE NEW AIRCRAFT WITH LESS THAN A HUNDRED HOURS TIME IN SERVICE.