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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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NTSB Report

September 8, 2007 · Mooney M20TN · N353TW

Kerrville, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
September 8, 2007
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Kerrville, TX
Aircraft
Mooney M20TN
Tail Number
N353TW
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
DFW07IA204

The pilot reported that during the approach and landing, the nose of the airplane "was very heavy", and he was unable to keep the nose landing gear from striking the runway. An inspection of the airplane revealed that the elevator (pitch) trim control was reversed. The 2007 model airplane had a provision for the installation of an aftermarket electric trim option. This meant that the airplane was delivered to the customer without an operating electric trim system in order that the airplane could be retrofitted at a later date. Prior to its departure from the previous airport, the airplane's manual electric trim was enabled in accordance with the appropriate manufactures service bulletin. A subsequent inspection by the airplane manufacturer revealed that the wires connecting the yoke's trim control switch were incorrectly labeled. Therefore, incorporating the trim system service bulletin would reverse the direction of the pitch trim control from the pilot's input.

NTSB Probable Cause

The incorrect wire labeling, resulting in the trim controls operating in the opposite direction of the pilot's input.

Full Narrative

On September 8, 2007, approximately 1700 central daylight time, a single-engine Mooney M20TN airplane, N353TW, registered to Tri-Went, Inc., of Knoxville, Tennessee, received minor damage during a hard landing at the Kerrville Municipal Airport/Louis Schreiner Field (KERV) near Kerrville, Texas. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE), near Columbia, South Carolina, about 1245 eastern daylight time. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, the pilot reported that during the first approach and attempted landing, the nose of the airplane "was very heavy", and he was unable to keep the airplane from bouncing hard on to the runway. On the final landing attempt, the airplane struck the runway hard enough for the propeller to contact the runway and cause the nose gear to collapse. The inspector noted that the airplane's nose landing gear, engine cowling, and the propeller were damaged during the incident. Additionally, during an inspection of the airplane, it was noted that the elevator (pitch) trim control was reversed. The 2007 model airplane was delivered to the customer without an operating electric trim system, in order that the airplane could be retrofitted at a later date. Prior to its departure from CAE, Mooney Service Bulletin M20-298 was completed on the airplane, which enabled the use of the manual electric trim function. During a subsequent inspection by the airplane manufacturer, it was discovered that the wires connecting the yoke's manual electric trim switch were incorrectly labeled. Therefore, after incorporating Mooney Service Bulletin M20-298, the direction of the pitch trim control movement was reversed from the pilot's input.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time17:00 CDT
Nearest AirportKerrville Muni/Louis Schreiner (0nm)
Runway12
Runway Length6000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMooney M20TN
Tail NumberN353TW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-550 · Reciprocating · 280
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 35 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 1100 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.98 inHg
Observation Time22:07
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data