# Accident 20010810033509A: Amtr ACRODUSTER1, Conroe, TX, August 10, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 10, 2001, 13:15 local time
- Place: Conroe, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.3209° N, 95.4701° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3209&lon=-95.4701&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6614R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6614R-2003-04-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Zacharias Andrew J ACRODUSTER I (registry code 05646FC, https://openairdocs.org/model/zacharias-andrew-j-acroduster-i) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR ACRODUSTER1
- Reported engine: LYC O360A1D
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 468 total, 241 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW01LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA181) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010810033509A

## Narrative

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

(-23) RUDDER CABLE ON EXPERIMENTAL/HOMEBUILT (ACRODUSTERI) AIRCRAFT BROKE DURING AEROBATIC COMPETITION. PILOT CLIMBED TOWARD UNINHABITED AREA, SHUT DOWN AIRCRAFT ENGINE AND BAILED OUT. NO DAMAGE TO ANYTHING OTHER THAN AIRCRAFT BEING DESTROYED. NO INJURIES. NOTE: 44709 MAINT. TECH. (.4) ON AUGUST 10, 2001, AT 1315 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A ZACHARIUS ACRODUSTER I EXPERIMENTAL, AMATEUR BUILT AIRPLANE, N6614R, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED TERRAIN DURING AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AFTER THE PILOT PARACHUTED FROM THE AIRPLANE NEAR CONROE, TEXAS. THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT. THE PRIVATE PILOT, SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRPLANE, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 PERSONAL AEROBATIC FLIGHT. THE LOCAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY AIRPORT, CONROE, TEXAS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS WHEN THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT RUDDER CABLE SEPARATED. HE FLEW THE AIRPLANE TO AN OPEN FIELD LOCATED 7 MILES NORTH OF CONROE, AND WHILE AT 4,300 FEET MSL, EXITED THE AIRPLANE. ONCE CLEAR OF THE AIRPLANE, HE DEPLOYED HIS PARACHUTE.                  HE STATED THAT HE OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE ENTER A DESCENT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, IMPACT TREES. THE PILOT LANDED ON A DIRT ROAD WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THERE WERE NO REPORTED GROUND INJURIES. ACCORDING TO THE FAA INSPECTORS, WHO RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT SITE, THE AIRPLANE'S STRUCTURE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. REVIEW OF PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN AT THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THAT THE RUDDER CONTROL CABLES DISPLAYED SEVERE CORROSION. IN ADDITION TO THE TOTAL SEPARATION OF THE RIGHT RUDDER CABLE AS A RESULT OF CORROSION, THE OTHER SEGMENTS OF THE CABLE DISPLAYED SEPARATION OF SOME CABLE STRANDS. REVIEW OF THE AIRPLANE'S MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT UNDERWENT ITS LAST CONDITION INSPECTION ON MAY 12, 2001, AT AN AIRCRAFT TOTAL TIME OF 540.96 HOURS. THE CONDITION INSPECTION WAS THE LAST ENTRY IN THE AIRCRAFT LOGBOOK AND IT READ IN PART, "INSPECTED AND LUBED CONTROL AND CABLES." AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE AIRCRAFT HAD ACCUMULATED 558.3 TOTAL FLIGHT HOURS.

## 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 FTW01LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA181), Aug 10, 2001: Zacharius Acroduster I (N6614R), Conroe, TX, destroyed. Probable cause: the mechanic's inadequate inspection which resulted in the undetected corroded rudder cable and its subsequent failure during aerobatic maneuvers.

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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