Probable cause
The fracture of the aileron hinge strap due to fatigue crack propagation, which resulted in substantial damage to a wing rib aft of the spar at the outboard aileron cutout. Contributing to the accident was inadequate maintenance inspection.
NTSB analysis
About 5 minutes after taking off, the pilot observed that the left upper aileron had come loose from the inboard hinge. The pilot returned to the departure airport and landed uneventfully. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that a wing rib aft of the spar at the outboard aileron cutout was substantially damaged.
Examination of the aileron hinge strap fracture surfaces revealed crack arrest marks and thumbnail-shaped patterns on the fracture surfaces, which emanated from both the top and bottom surfaces of the hinge strap. The fracture surfaces were consistent with asymmetric reverse-bending fatigue crack propagation.
The fatigue cracking propagated from the top and bottom surfaces through almost the entire cross-section of the hinge strap.
The pilot reported that while there were no inspection criteria from the manufacturer relative to the hinge straps, all hinge straps were inspected as part of each annual inspection.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR19LA114 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 15, 2019
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- San Diego, California
- Nearest airport
- Montgomery-Gibbs Executive (MYF)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Great Lakes 2T-1A-2
- N-number
- N101GL
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1975
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.