Fairchild-Heliporter Pilatus PC6/B2-H2 incident near Cross Keys, New Jersey, December 4, 2004
On December 4, 2004 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Fairchild-Heliporter Pilatus PC6/B2-H2, registered N7391U, suffered minor damage in an incident near Cross Keys, New Jersey (Cross Keys Airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 9 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total failure of the left elevator attachment point for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 4, 2004 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Cross Keys, New Jersey · Cross Keys Airport · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 9 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild-Heliporter Pilatus PC6/B2-H2
- Registration
- N7391U · no longer on the register · serial 2028
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 5 minutes after takeoff, the left elevator partially separated, and fluttered for about 15-20 seconds. During that time, the pilot had difficulty controlling the airplane. The left elevator then completely separated, and the pilot regained control of the airplane. After regaining control, the pilot performed an uneventful landing. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left elevator separated about the mid-point of the horizontal stabilizer. The left elevator was attached to a bellcrank, secured by two 3/8-inch bolts. The bolts and elevator were not recovered.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,900 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 5,750 as pilot in command; 1,800 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,954 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 1, 2004; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-27 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 17N Cross Keys NJ at 4:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 22,000 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from PHL, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 8 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.