Amateur-built SPORTSMAN GS-2 accident near El Dorado Hills, California, April 18, 2009
On April 18, 2009, a amateur-built SPORTSMAN GS-2, registered N209TP, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near El Dorado Hills, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The in-flight separation of the elevator control torque tube rod end bearing from the elevator torque tube as a result of incorrectly tightened rod end bearing lock nuts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 2009
- Place
- El Dorado Hills, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SPORTSMAN GS-2
- Registration
- N209TP · no longer on the register · serial 7297
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses monitoring the accident flight's departure airport common traffic advisory frequency reported that they heard a mayday radio transmission stating that "I've lost elevator control" and "I'm going down in some trees." Witnesses adjacent to the accident site reported hearing a loud whining noise followed by the sound of something impacting trees. One witness stated that the airplane was at a low altitude in an upright attitude when it struck trees. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain and came to rest near a residential structure where a post-crash fire consumed most of the fuselage. Post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed that the elevator torque tube was disconnected from the forward rod end bearing. The forward rod end bearing remained attached to the elevator bell crank assembly. No damage was observed on the forward torque tube rod end threads or forward rod end bearing threads. The forward torque tube rod end jam nut was observed threaded about one-half inch from the threaded rod end. The aft torque tube jam nut and torque tube rod end was observed against the aft rod end bearing. The aft torque tube rod end was slightly bent and did not allow movement. No evidence of "torque seal" was observed on the forward or aft jam nuts, rod end bearings, or torque tube assembly. No additional mechanical anomalies were noted with the recovered airframe.
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
What happened, in order
- Flight control sys malf/fail during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Elevator control system › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Elevator control system › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,626 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: October 16, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-390 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RIU Rancho Marieta CA at 11:18 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.