# Accident 19960820023429A: Piper J3C65, Detroit/Grosse, MI, August 20, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 20, 1996, 09:45 local time
- Place: Detroit/Grosse, MI
- Airport: Grosse Ile Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.1309° N, 83.1504° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1309&lon=-83.1504&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3607N, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3607N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C65
- Reported engine: CONT A658
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,000 total, 50 in this make and model, 85 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI96LA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA308) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960820023429A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON TAKEOFF AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO ROLL RIGHT, UNRESPONSIVE TO FLIGHT CONTROL. RIGHT WING AND GEAR HIT GROUND. (.4)THE PILOT SAID THAT RIGHT AFTER TAKEOFF AT APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL), THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A RIGHT TURN.  THE AIRPLANE DID NOT RESPOND TO THE PILOT'S CONTROL INPUTS.  THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AND PITCH.  THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR.  THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY GROUND LOOPED BEFORE COMING TO A STOP.  EXAMINATION OF AIRPLANE SHOWED THAT BOTH AILERONS WERE RIGGED IMPROPERLY.  THE AILERON CONTROL CABLES HAD BEEN ATTACHED TO THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BELLCRANKS.  THIS FLIGHT ON WHICH THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE FOLLOWING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION PREFORMED ON JULY 19, 1996.                                                                          (-23) THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT OUT OF A RECOVER AND ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE PILOT WAS DEPARTING RUNWAY 22, AT 30 FEET ALTITUDE THE AIRCRAFT MADE AN UNCOMMANDED RIGHT TURN. THE PILOT TRIED TO CORRECT TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO THE RIGHT, THE PILOT CLOSED THE THROTTLE AND THE AIRCRAFT STRU                                             CK THE GROUND WITH THE RIGHT WING FIRST. IT SPUN AROUND 270 DEGREES AND CAME TO REST 150 FEET FROM THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI96LA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA308), Aug 20, 1996: Piper J3C-65 (N3607N), Grosse Ile, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: improper attachment of the flight control cables to the ailerons by the mechanic who performed the last annual inspection. A factor relating to this accident was the pilot's failure to perform an…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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