No Matter What You Fly, Ice Is Nothing To Be Nonchalant
About
A Citation Excel, flying under Part 135, had a rude awakening
earlier this month when a 'pitch trim miscompare' warning became a
full-blown pitch trim failure. They were nearing 41,000 feet when
the Miscompare light went on, followed by "Frozen" behavior by the
pitch trim itself. After passing through 8000 feet, where the air
was obviously much warmer, the system came back online...
NTSB Identification: ERA12IA097
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Incident occurred Friday, December 02, 2011 in Ocoee, FL
Aircraft: CESSNA 560XL, registration: N576CS
Injuries: 3 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may
contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
On December 2, 2011, about 1228 eastern daylight time, a Cessna
560XL, N576CS, landed at Orlando International Airport (MCO),
Orlando, Florida, following an in-flight pitch trim malfunction
that occurred near Ocoee, Florida. The airline transport-rated
pilot and co-pilot were not injured. The airplane was not damaged.
The airplane was registered to CitationShares Sales, Inc. and
operated by CitationShares Management LLC under the provisions of
14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as an on-demand air taxi
flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an
instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The flight
originated at Naples Municipal Airport, Naples, Florida, at 1150
and was destined for Washington Dulles International Airport,
Dulles, Virginia.
The flight crew reported the following. While approaching their
level off altitude of flight level 410, a "pitch trim miscompare"
message illuminated in the cockpit. After accomplishing the
checklist items and disconnecting the autopilot, considerable
forward yoke pressure was required to maintain level flight. The
crew found the manual pitch trim control wheel to be "frozen" in
the forward position and unable to move it. The crew declared an
emergency and diverted to MCO. During the descent for landing, upon
reaching 8,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), the trim wheel released
and the system returned to normal. The crew cancelled the emergency
and landed at MCO uneventfully.
After the aircraft was secured, maintenance personnel inspected
flight control system. The left and right elevator trim actuators
were found to be contaminated with moisture.