# Accident 19971210038169A: Beech 1900C, Rockford, IL, December 10, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 10, 1997, 16:19 local time
- Place: Rockford, IL
- Airport: Greater Rockford
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.1907° N, 89.0595° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1907&lon=-89.0595&mi=10
- Aircraft: N79GL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 1900C
- Reported engine: PWA PT6A65B
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,971 total, 537 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA063) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971210038169A

## Narrative

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

LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON TAKEOFF. ASSYMETRICAL THRUST INDICATED. (.4)THE AIRPLANE HAD JUST BEEN REFURBISHED, AND IT REQUIRED A MAINTENANCE FLIGHT CHECK BEFORE BEING RELEASED FOR FLIGHT. THE PILOT CONDUCTED A PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE, CHECKING THE FLIGHT CONTROLS FOR FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND OBSERVING AILERON MOVEMENT UP AND DOWN, BUT DID NOT 'SEE' OR NOTICE INCORRECT AILERON MOVEMENT. THE PILOT USED NORMAL TAKEOFF PROCEDURES. DURING ROTATION, THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING BEGAN TO DROP TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT APPLIED RIGHT AILERON, BUT WITH NO EFFECT. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY IN A LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE, AND THE LEFT WING IMPACTED A TAXI SIGN. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE AILERON CABLES WERE INCORRECTLY CONNECTED AT THE TURNBUCKLES IN THE WHEELWELL. THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE MANUAL CONTAINED THE FOLLOWING WARNING: 'VISUALLY CHECK TO ASSURE THAT AILERON TRAVEL RESPONDS PROPERLY TO THE CONTROL WHEEL MOVEMENT. WHEN THE CONTROL WHEEL IS TURNED RIGHT, THE RIGHT AILERON SHOULD MOVE UP AND THE LEFT AILERON SHOULD MOVE DOWN.'                                              (-23) AIRCRAFT JUST CAME OUT OF REFURBISHMENT AT RAYTHEON AT ROCKFORD.  THI       S WAS THE 1ST TEST FLIGHT WITH 3 MECHANICS ON BOARD. A/C DEPARTED RR1, AT LIFT OFF PILOT REPORTED HEAVY LEFT WING (ROTATE SPEED 118 MPH).  A/C DRIFTED LEFT, HIT AIRPORT DIRECTIONAL SIGN.  A/C TRAVELED APPROX. 1/2 MILE BEFORE STOPPING.  LEFT WING & LEFT PROPELLER DID HIT THE GROUND.  HEAVY DAMAGE TO LEFT WING, AIRPORT SIGN CUT INTO THE ONE PIECE SPAR, APPROX. 8" DEEP CUT.

## 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 CHI98LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA063), Dec 10, 1997: Beech 1900C (N79GL), Rockford, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: improper installation of aileron cables by the maintenance personnel, inadequate inspection by the company's maintenance personnel of maintenance performed, and inadequate preflight by the pilot.

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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