# NTSB ANC21LA093: Piper PA-22-150, N8061D, Chandalar Shelf, AK, September 17, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 17, 2021, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Chandalar Shelf, AK · 5CD - Coordinates: 68.050258, -149.56688 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=68.0503&lon=-149.5669&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 103925 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC21LA093 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103925/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103925 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA093 ## Probable cause A separation of the rudder cable from the rudder pedal due to the connecting bolt detaching for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a loss of directional control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Misc hardware: fasteners](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430/cases.md) - [Flight control system: rudder control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 93 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md) - [Flight control system: rudder control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 93 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, as the airplane became airborne, he heard an “audible pop” and immediately felt slack in the left rudder pedal. The airplane banked to the right, unable to recover from the right turn, he decreased power and added right rudder. Subsequently, he continued in the forced bank to the right and maneuvered the airplane for an emergency off-airport landing. During the emergency landing the tail was dragged sideways, the main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the elevator. A postaccident examination revealed that the forward attachment point of the rudder cable that connects to the rudder pedal came unfastened. The pilot reported that the connecting bolt was recovered but that the nut and cotter pin were not located. Based on the available evidence it was undetermined why the nut disconnected from the bolt. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8061D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8061D), registered now, S/N 22-5584, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-5584 - Year built: 1957 - Airframe hours: 4480.7 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 18, 2021 - Airport: 5CD, Chandalar Shelf, runway 19, 2,529 × 70 ft, gravel - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 28, 2020; seat: left; flight hours: 578 total, 578 in this make and model, 578 as pilot in command, 193 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft broken - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.51 inHg - Observed at: PAKP, 50 nm away - METAR: PAKP 172256Z AUTO 04009KT 10SM -RA BKN008 OVC037 01/M01 A2951 RMK AO2 RAB33SNE33 SLP036 P0000 T00111011 FZRANO ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20210917016119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210917016119A), Sep 17, 2021: Piper PA-22-150, Chandalar Shelf, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he was taking off at Chandalar Shelf airport Alaska. During takeoff rotation he heard a loud sound and noted the left rudder foot pedal became… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103925. 9.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 8.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12794550&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident pictures (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 773 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12794560&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Pictures-Rel.pdf 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. --- 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.