# Accident 20210717020399A: Gary James Lail ZENITH CH 750 CRUZER, Blossom, TX, July 17, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 17, 2021, 15:00 local time
- Place: Blossom, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.6328° N, 95.3805° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6328&lon=-95.3805&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9667Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9667Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Gary James Lail ZENITH CH 750 CRUZER (registry code 056367Q, https://openairdocs.org/model/gary-james-lail-zenith-ch-750-cruzer) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Ulpower 350I (registry code 62001, https://openairdocs.org/engine/ulpower-350i) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GARY JAMES LAIL ZENITH CH 750 CRUZER
- Reported engine: ULPOWER 350I
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 10 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA326) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210717020399A

## Narrative

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

N9667Z, AN EXPERIMENTAL-AMATEUR-BUILT-AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON TAKE OFF ON A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP IN BLOSSOM, TEXAS.  THE PILOT AND PASSENGER SURVIVED WITH SERIOUS INJURIES AND WERE TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL IN PARIS.  THE DPS TROOPER STATED THAT THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE LOST RUDDER CONTROL ON TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED ON LONGITUDINAL AXIS AND IMPACTED THE GROUND, DESTROYING THE AIRCRAFT AND TRAPPING THE OCCUPANTS.

THE KIT MANUFACTURER EXAMINED THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE RUDDER CABLE END AND SAID IT WAS NOT PROPERLY SWAGED, THAT IT DID NOT APPEAR THE PROPER TOOL WAS USED. THE MANUFACTURER FURTHER STATED THERE WAS NO WAY THE SUPPLIED ?GO/NOGO? GAUGE HAD BEEN USED TO INSPECT THE CABLES. THE KIT INSTRUCTIONS SAY TO BUILD AND TEST THE CABLES IN ACCORDANCE WITH AC 43.13-1B, CHAPTER 7, SECTION 7-148 AND IN THIS CASE, SPECIFICALLY, FIGURE 7-14.

NONE OF THE CABLES HAD BEEN PROPERLY ASSEMBLED.

## 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 CEN21LA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA326), Jul 17, 2021: Gary James Lail Zenith CH 750 Cruzer (N9667Z), Blossom, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper swaging of the rudder control cable, which disconnected during flight and resulted in the loss of control.

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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