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September 15, 1993 · Beech G35 · N4641D

Arlington, WA

Overview

Report Status
Factual report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 15, 1993
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Arlington, WA
Aircraft
Beech G35
Tail Number
N4641D
Operator
Philips J B
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA93LA217

WHILE ENTERING THE LANDING PATTERN THE PILOT FELT A 'BUMP' FOLLOWED BY A VIBRATION AND FORE AND AFT OSCILLATION OF THE CONTROL COLUMN. AN RPM INCREASE AND THROTTLE/SPEED REDUCTION WAS EFFECTED AND THE VIBRATION CEASED. AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING FOLLOWED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE LEFT STABILIZER SPAR WAS COMPLETELY FRACTURED THROUGH THE UPPER AND LOWER OUTBOARD BOLTS. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED NO PREEXISTING CRACK AND CHARACTERIZED THE FRACTURE AS TYPICAL OF AN OVERSTRESS SEPARATION. THE RUDDERVATORS WERE WEIGHED AND FOUND TO BE WITHIN BALANCE TOLERANCE LIMITS.

Full Narrative

On September 15, 1993, approximately 1400 hours Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Beech G35 "V" tail Bonanza, N4641D, registered to J. B. Phillips, and being flown by Robert L. Woolverton, a certificated instrument rated private pilot, sustained substantial damage when the left stabilizer main spar separated along a fracture line through several spar attach bolts within the empennage area. The pilot and passenger were uninjured, and the aircraft, which was entering the landing pattern at the Arlington Municipal Airport, Arlington, Washington, at the time of the occurrence, was successfully landed without further damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal in nature, was to have been operated in accordance with the requirements set forth in 14CFR91 and originated at Arlington. The Safety Board was first notified of the occurrence by the insurance adjustor on October 8, 1993. The pilot reported to a Beech representative that while descending into the downwind leg of the traffic pattern at about 170 mph he felt a "bump" similar to what one would expect when encountering their own wake turbulence after a 360 degree constant altitude turn. Immediately thereafter, the airplane began to vibrate with the control column oscillating fore and aft. The pilot reduced power to idle, increased propeller control to high RPM and began to decelerate the aircraft. The vibration ceased soon after and the aircraft was landed without difficulty. Inspection of the aircraft by the Beech representative revealed damage to the aft fuselage and empennage (refer to attached letter). Additionally, the left stabilizer spar was found to be fractured through the upper and lower outboard attach bolt holes. The balance of both the left and right ruddervators was found to be within acceptable limits. Additionally, Beech Service Bulletin 2188 had been applied to the aircraft several years previous to the occurrence. The two sections of spar were sent to the Board's Materials Laboratory Division for examination. There was no evidence of any preexisting fracture and no bending deformation, and the fracture surface was described as "typical of an overstress separation" (refer to attached Metallurgical report).

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:00 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech G35
Tail NumberN4641D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorPhilips J B
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · E-225-8 · Reciprocating · 225
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 54 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 52
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time23:59
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data