# Accident 19991215036889A: Maule M7235C, Iuka, MS, December 15, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 15, 1999, 15:16 local time
- Place: Iuka, MS
- Airport: Iuka Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.7997° N, 88.1903° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7997&lon=-88.1903&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4AN (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M7235C
- Reported engine: LYC O540B4B5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,310 total, 15 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL00LA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA015) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991215036889A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON DECEMBER 15,1999, AT 1516 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A MAULE M7-235, N4AN, GROUND LOOPED DURING LANDING AT THE IUKA AIRPORT IN IUKA, MISSISSIPPI. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATED BY THE PRIVATE PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14, CFR PART 91, AND VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE PLEASURE FLIGHT. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED AND THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED IN DECATUR, ALABAMA, AT 1400. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, WHILE LANDING ON RUNWAY 18, THE RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED AND RECEIVED MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE WHERE THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR ATTACHES. EXAMINATION OF THE RUDDER BY THE FAA FOUND THAT THE RUDDER CABLE PULLED LOOSE FROM THE NICOPRESS FITTING AND SLEEVE. THE AIRCRAFT TACH SHOWED 18.5 HOURS AND THE HOBBS METER INDICATED 21.3 HOURS. THE RUDDER CABLE AND NICOPRESS FITTING WERE REMOVED FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. (.4) ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, WHILE LANDING ON RUNWAY 18, THE RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED AND RECEIVED MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE WHERE THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR ATTACHES. EXAMINATION OF THE RUDDER BY THE FAA FOUND THAT THE RUDDER CABLE PULLED LOOSE FROM THE NICOPRESS FITTING AND SLEEVE. THE AIRCRAFT TACHOMETER SHOWED 18.5 HOURS AND THE HOBBS METER INDICATED 21.3 HOURS. THE RUDDER CABLE AND NICOPRESS FITTING WERE REMOVED FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE RUDDER CABLE ASSEMBLY A NICOPRESS SLEEVE WAS FOUND TO BE NOT ADEQUATELY CRIMPED AND THE SLEEVE WAS SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN THE GAUGE DIMENSION. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE MANUFACTURER'S CRIMPED TOOL WAS NOT SET CORRECTLY TO SPECIFICATION ON THE ELEVATOR AND RUDDER CABLES.

## 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 ATL00LA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA015), Dec 15, 1999: Maule M7-235C (N4AN), Iuka, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The separation of the nicopress fitting allowing a release of the rudder cable resulting in a loss of control during landing roll. A factor was the manufacturer's use of an improperly calibrated…

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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