Monday the 20th of April, 2026

NTSB Final Report: Piper PA-22-108

The Pilot Reported That The Elevator Became Jammed In A Nose-Up Attitude After It Struck (A) Sign

Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Accident Number: CEN26LA053
Date & Time: November 26, 2025, 10:57 Local Registration: N4588Z
Aircraft: Piper PA-22-108 Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis: The pilot reported that during he felt a gust of wind from the left that lifted the left wing. The pilot stated that he overcorrected, the airplane became unstable, and he decided to perform a go-around. After the pilot initiated the go-around, the airplane veered to the right of the runway, struck a runway distance remaining sign, and then became airborne. The pilot reported that the elevator became jammed in a nose-up attitude after it struck the sign. The airplane reached an altitude of about 400 ft above ground level before the pilot regained control and returned to land without further incident. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing strut, elevator, and horizontal stabilizer.

The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot further reported that the accident could have been prevented if he had established better directional control before initiating the go-around.

Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov

NTSB Prelim: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II

The Purpose Of The Flight Was To Use The Helicopter To Flush Wildlife Into An Open Pasture

Location: Stonewall, TX Accident Number: CEN26LA148
Date & Time: March 24, 2026, 09:30 Local Registration: N233JD
Aircraft: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II Injuries: 2 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Aerial observation

On March 24, 2026, about 0930 central daylight time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, N233JD, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Stonewall, Texas. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation flight.

According to the pilot, she conducted a normal preflight inspection of the helicopter and found no anomalies. She stated that the purpose of the flight was to use the helicopter to flush wildlife into an open pasture for observation. While in a hover, about 15 to 30 ft above the tree line, she heard a loud “pop” and felt the helicopter jerk. The helicopter immediately entered an uncontrolled descent into terrain. The pilot reported that the helicopter would not respond to inputs made with the anti-torque pedals.

The pilot, passenger, and a witness reported hearing a loud “pop” from the helicopter before the sound of the engine went quiet. According to the passenger, the helicopter shook violently after the “pop” was heard and then rotated rapidly in a clockwise direction.

The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, the main rotor system, the tailboom, and the tail rotor system. The helicopter was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov

NTSB Final Report: Piper Aircraft Inc PA 46-350P

Pilot’s Encounter With Convective Weather Conditions, Which Resulted In A Loss Of Airplane Control

Location: Hartsburg, Missouri Accident Number: CEN24FA160
Date & Time: April 16, 2024, 12:05 Local Registration: N451MA
Aircraft: Piper Aircraft Inc PA 46-350P Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis: The airplane was on an instrument flight rules flight and air traffic control (ATC) provided the pilot with vector guidance to avoid an active military operations area (MOA). The controller informed the pilot that he would only be able to deviate to the left of his course due to the active MOA. At that time, the airplane was in an area of developing convective weather activity and likely in instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot reported to ATC that he encountered freezing rain. ATC communications revealed that the pilot requested to deviate to the left of his course due to weather, including mention of encountering freezing rain, which ATC approved. Flight track data showed the airplane entered a descending left turn. A performance study based on the aircraft track data showed that, during the turn, the airplane’s roll angle reached 70°, the pitch angle reached -17° and then -34°, and the calibrated airspeed exceeded both the airplane's published never exceed speed (VNE), and its maximum operating maneuvering speed (VO). During the turn, the airplane’s structure broke apart, and wreckage was distributed along a 3-mile path. The flight path depicted in the flight track data was consistent with a loss of airplane control.

Postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed that the horizontal stabilizer and the wings failed in a downward direction. A failure of the airplane’s horizontal stabilizer would result in the airplane pitching forward and a high negative load to the wings. The examination noted that all identified failures in the airplane structure had signatures consistent with overload failure. Examination of the airplane’s flight control system did not reveal any preexisting anomalies. The cockpit avionics could not be tested due to impact damage.

Based on the available data, the pilot encountered forecast adverse weather associated with convective activity. The pilot noted to ATC that he encountered freezing rain, however, the quantity of ice accumulation and its effect on the flight could not be determined. While attempting to deviate from his flight path to avoid this weather, airplane control was lost and it entered a steep descending turn. During the turn, the airplane’s speed exceeded its published never exceed speed, which resulted in overload failure of the horizontal stabilizer and subsequent failure of the airplane’s wings.

Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- The pilot’s encounter with convective weather conditions, which resulted in a loss of airplane control, the exceedance of the airplane’s never exceed speed, and the resulting overload failure of the horizontal stabilizer and subsequent failure of the airplane’s wings.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov