# Accident 20080818843449A: Amtr EXCALIBUR, Moses Lake, WA, August 18, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 18, 2008, 07:45 local time
- Place: Moses Lake, WA
- Airport: Moses Lake Municipal
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.1910° N, 119.3003° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1910&lon=-119.3003&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2505Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2505Q-2012-04-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Wheat Lawrence M EXCALIBUR EX (registry code 05904MX, https://openairdocs.org/model/wheat-lawrence-m-excalibur-ex) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR EXCALIBUR
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,126 total, 150 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA08CA184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA184) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080818843449A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DEPARTED THE MOSES LAKE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT WITH ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THE OWNER AND MANUFACTURER OF THE AIRCRAFT. THEY DEPARTED AT 0800. WHILE FLYING OVER THE POT HOLES RESERVOIR THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD POP. THE PILOT NOTICED HE HAD NO RUDDER CONTROL HE THEN CHECKED WITH THE PASSENGER TO SEE IF HE HAD ANY RUDDER CONTROL. THE PASSENGER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO RUDDER CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESCENDING IN A RIGHT DESCENDING TURN AND THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT IN THE RESERVOIR. THEY LANDED ABOUT 60 FEET FROM SHORE AND THE AIRCRAFT SANK IN ABOUT 40 FEET OF WATER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED ON AUGUST 19, 2008. THE CABLES THAT GO FROM THE RUDDER TO THE LEFT RUDDER PEDDLES HAD SHEARED THE RIVETS AT THE ATTACH POINT CAUSING THE LOSS OF RUDDER CONTROLL.  THE RIGHT RUDDER ATTACH POINT HAD ALSO SHEARED TWO OF THE THREE RIVETS THAT HOLD THE RUDDER CABLE TO THE PEDDLE.

## 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 SEA08CA184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA184), Aug 18, 2008: Wheat Excalibur EX (N2505Q), Moses Lake, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The right rudder pedal attach rivets sheared due to overload.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.