At 1256 mountain time, a Piper PA-28-181 lost aileron control in flight and was damaged in a resulting emergency landing. The pilot was not injured. The pilot said he was practicing maneuvers for his commercial certificate and attempted to make a clearing turn when the ailerons failed to respond. He declared an emergency and landed on a dirt road, using rudder and throttle to control the airplane. After landing, the right wing struck a tree. An FAA investigator found a fastener on the floor that attaches the left control wheel to the control column. When the column was moved, the ailerons worked normally.
July 07, Phoenix, Ariz. / Piper Archer
At 1256 mountain time, a Piper PA-28-181 lost aileron control in flight and was damaged in a resulting emergency landing. The pilot was not injured. The pilot said he was practicing maneuvers for his commercial certificate and attempted to make a clearing turn when the ailerons failed to respond. He declared an emergency and landed on a dirt road, using rudder and throttle to control the airplane. After landing, the right wing struck a tree. An FAA investigator found a fastener on the floor that attaches the left control wheel to the control column. When the column was moved, the ailerons worked normally....
Key Takeaways:
- A Piper PA-28-181 lost aileron control during flight while the pilot was practicing maneuvers for a commercial certificate.
- The pilot successfully executed an emergency landing on a dirt road using rudder and throttle, sustaining no injuries, though the aircraft was damaged when its right wing struck a tree after landing.
- An FAA investigation found a detached fastener that connects the left control wheel to the control column, indicating a mechanical failure as the likely cause of the aileron control loss.
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