Cessna autopilot fault caused fatal crash at Leeds East Airport
An intermittent fault in the autopilot system of a Cessna T210M aircraft caused an uncontrolled descent and crash at Leeds East Airport in April 2024. A 70-year-old passenger died eight days after the crash, which the Air Accidents Investigations Branch found was most likely caused by the autopilot malfunction.
What happened
A Cessna T210M aircraft crashed at Leeds East Airport on 11 April 2024 while attempting to take off. An intermittent fault in the autopilot system caused the aircraft's elevator trim position to change from 'Take Off' to 'Nose Down', making it extremely difficult for the pilot to control the aircraft during takeoff.
Despite the pilot's attempts to halt the plane after realising there was a problem, the aircraft briefly took off before descending rapidly and landing heavily on its nose wheel. The aircraft bounced two or three times, the nose wheel detached, and the plane came to rest upside down.
Reported impact
A male passenger in his 70s was critically hurt in the crash and died eight days later. The pilot, aged 79, escaped with minor head and back injuries.
Index analysis
The Air Accidents Investigations Branch investigation found the crash was most likely due to an 'intermittent fault' with the Cessna T210M's autopilot system. The fault was unknown to the pilot at the time of the incident.
Governance controls
The AAIB recommended that the Civil Aviation Authority publish guidance and best practice for general aviation pilots on autopilot systems.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.