# Accident 20170508004799A: Piper PA-18A, Coeur D'Alene, ID, May 8, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 8, 2017, 13:35 local time
- Place: Coeur D'Alene, ID
- Airport: Coeur D'Alene - Pappy Boyingto
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.7744° N, 116.8194° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7744&lon=-116.8194&mi=10
- Aircraft: N245KW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N245KW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18A (registry code 7101804, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 654 total, 27 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA102) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170508004799A

## Narrative

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

IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF, AT APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET, THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED FORWARD AND TO THE LEFT AND BEGAN RAPIDLY DESCENDING. THE LEFT WINGTIP CONTACTED THE GROUND CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO SPIN COUNTER-CLOCKWISE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST PERPENDICULAR TO THE RUNWAY WITH THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT FACING THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE COWLING, FUSELAGE, WINGS, AND EMPANNAGE. THE PILOT SUFFERED SERIOUS HEAD INJURY. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FORWARD SECTION OF THE RIGHT RUDDER CONTROL CABLE HAD FAILED AT THE POINT WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE AFT RUDDER PEDAL RESULTINGIN LOSS OF RIGHT RUDDER AUTHORITY FOR THE FRONT RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL.

## 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 WPR17LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA102), May 8, 2017: Piper PA 18A (N245KW), Coeur D'Alene, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of yaw control due to an inadequately compressed rudder swage, which resulted from inadequate maintenance and led to the separation of the forward right rudder cable.

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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