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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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June 6, 1982 · Piper PA-30 · N7254Y

Vandalia, OH

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 6, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Vandalia, OH
Aircraft
Piper PA-30
Tail Number
N7254Y
Operator
Michael I Massimini
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI82FA211

DURING DESCENT AT 215 MPH THE ACFT ENTERED VIOLENT BUFFETING. RECOVERY WAS INITIATED BY REDUCING POWER & THE ACFT LANDED WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INCIDENT. EXAMINATION REVEALED THE HORIZONTAL STABILATOR WAS PERMANENTLY BENT DOWNWARD ON BOTH SIDES. THE ACFT WAS MODIFIED WITH GAP SEALS ON 5/25/82 IAW STC SA516GL. EXAMINATION OF THE COUNTERBALANCE ARM ASSEMBLY SHOWED THAT TWO SMALL WEIGHTS (SLUGS) WERE USED TO OBTAIN A BALANCED CONDITION WHEN THE STC MODIFICATION WAS COMPLETED ON THE STABILATOR. THE STC CONTAINED A LIMITATION THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE INCORPORATED IN ANY ACFT HAVING OTHER APPROVED MODIFICATIONS UNLESS IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT IT WILL NOT INTRODUCE ANY ADVERSE EFFECT UPON ACFT AIRWORTHINESS. THIS ACFT HAD 8 OTHER MODIFICATIONS. ON 7/10/82 THE OWNER OF THE STC ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN WHICH EFFECTIVELY REMOVED THE GAP SEALS ON ALL PA-30 & PA-39 TYPE.ACFT THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN MODIFIED.

Full Narrative

DURING DESCENT AT 215 MPH THE ACFT ENTERED VIOLENT BUFFETING. RECOVERY WAS INITIATED BY REDUCING POWER & THE ACFT LANDED WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INCIDENT. EXAMINATION REVEALED THE HORIZONTAL STABILATOR WAS PERMANENTLY BENT DOWNWARD ON BOTH SIDES. THE ACFT WAS MODIFIED WITH GAP SEALS ON 5/25/82 IAW STC SA516GL. EXAMINATION OF THE COUNTERBALANCE ARM ASSEMBLY SHOWED THAT TWO SMALL WEIGHTS (SLUGS) WERE USED TO OBTAIN A BALANCED CONDITION WHEN THE STC MODIFICATION WAS COMPLETED ON THE STABILATOR. THE STC CONTAINED A LIMITATION THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE INCORPORATED IN ANY ACFT HAVING OTHER APPROVED MODIFICATIONS UNLESS IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT IT WILL NOT INTRODUCE ANY ADVERSE EFFECT UPON ACFT AIRWORTHINESS. THIS ACFT HAD 8 OTHER MODIFICATIONS. ON 7/10/82 THE OWNER OF THE STC ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN WHICH EFFECTIVELY REMOVED THE GAP SEALS ON ALL PA-30 & PA-39 TYPE.ACFT THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN MODIFIED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:30 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-30
Tail NumberN7254Y
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMichael I Massimini
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-C2C · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 26 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 10 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point12 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data