# NTSB ATL01LA031: Sorrell SNS-2 Guppy, N6334F, Raymond, MS, February 6, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 6, 2001, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Raymond, MS
- Coordinates: 32.259296, -90.420639 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2593&lon=-90.4206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Jackson FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 51459
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA031
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51459/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA031

## Probable cause

The failure of the rudder horn bracket, that resulted in the inflight loss of control.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - maintenance,modification - improper, owner/builder (contributing factor)
  - flight control,rudder - malfunction (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

According to the pilot, after takeoff the flight controls "felt unstable". Then he stated that, when he tried to turn, the airplane turned easy to the left. As the pilot maneuvered 300 feet above the trees, the airplane became uncontrollable. The pilot reported that the airplane entered a  flat spin and collided with trees. An examination of the airplane revealed that the rudder horn bracket that connects  to the rudder control cable, had broken at the weld. The builder manufactured the rudder horn bracket  during the construction of the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On February 06, 2001, at 0930 central standard time, a Sorrell, Guppy SNS-2,N6334F, an experimental airplane, collided with trees during an uncontrolled descent near Raymond, Mississippi. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR part 91with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The experimental airplane was destroyed, and the pilot received serious injuries. The flight originated from John Bell Williams Field, Raymond, Mississippi, at 0845.

According to the pilot, after takeoff the flight controls "felt unstable". Then he stated that, when he tried to turn, the airplane turned easy to the left. As the pilot maneuvered 300 feet above the trees, the airplane became uncontrollable. The pilot reported that the airplane entered what he described as a " flat spin/spiral." The airplane collided with trees in a heavily wooded area near Raymond, Mississippi.

An examination of the airplane revealed that the rudder horn bracket that connects  to the rudder control cable, had broken at the weld. The  builder  manufactured the rudder horn bracket  during construction of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6334F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6334F-2002-01-08), registration cancelled 2002-01-08, S/N 356, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Sorrell SNS-2 GUPPY
- Registry model: [Pertuit Bert SORRELL SNS GUPPY](https://openairdocs.org/model/pertuit-bert-sorrell-sns-guppy) (registry code 05606D8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 356
- Airframe hours: 91
- Engines: Unknown reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bert  Royce Pertuit
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: M16, Raymond, MS
- Destination: M16, Raymond, MS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: single; flight hours: 3,000 total, 91 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observed at: HKS

## 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 20010206000449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010206000449A), Feb 6, 2001: Amtr SNS2GUPPY, Raymond, MS, Destroyed. (-23)Pilot reported lost rudder control just after takeoff at approx. 200 feet altitude. He applied power and tried to initiate a left turn to return to the…

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.

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