# NTSB ATL01LA091: Mitchell T-10, N3221X, Ashland City, TN, July 24, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 23, 2001, 19:10 local (Jul 24, 2001, 00:10 UTC) - Place: Ashland City, TN - Coordinates: 36.299999, -87.066665 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3000&lon=-87.0667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Nashville FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52873 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52873/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA091 ## Probable cause The restricted movement of the rudder cable, resulting in a loss of control and collision with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb - flt control syst,rudder control cable/rod - movement restricted - Loss of control - in flight, climb - aircraft control - not possible (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis After takeoff from the private grass strip, the CFI reported an " extreme vibration" in the airplane. He retarded the throttle and the vibration diminished. When the CFI banked the airplane to return to the private grass strip, the left wing dropped excessively. As engine power was increased to maintain a climb, the airplane made an uncommaded roll and began descending. The airplane collided with trees during the uncontrolled descent and impacted the ground. The post-impact examination of the airplane showed that the left rudder cable had binded in the in the wing and the left rudder would ont travel about half the normal distance. The rudder assemblies are returned to the neutral position by spring action; the rudder assembly is designed to move in only one direction. ## Factual narrative On July 23, 2001, at 1910 central daylight time, a Mitchell Aircraft Corporation T-10, N3221X, collided with trees during an uncommanded roll after takeoff from a private grass strip, near Ashland City, Tennessee. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The commercial rated, aerobatic Certified flight instructor (CFI), and his passenger received serious injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. The flight departed the private airstrip at Ashland City, Tennessee, at 1905. According to the CFI, after takeoff from the private grass strip, the CFI reported the airplane developed an " extreme vibration". He retarded the throttle and the vibration diminished. When the CFI banked the airplane to return to the private grass strip, the left wing dropped excessively. As engine power was increased to maintain a climb, the airplane made an uncommaded roll and began descending. The airplane collided with trees during the uncontrolled descent and impacted the ground. The post-impact examination of the airplane showed that the left rudder cable had binded in the in the wing and the left rudder would travel about half the normal distance. According to the CFI, during normal operation, the rudder assemblies are returned to the neutral position by spring action; the rudder assembly is designed to move in only one direction. The examination also showed that the outer half of both wing assemblies was destroyed. The wing design has the rudder assemblies installed vertically on the wing tips. The examination also nation of the airplane revealed the aileron stabilator and rudder were completely destroyed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3221X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3221X-2013-08-05), registration cancelled 2013-08-05, S/N 101, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MITCHELL AIRCRAFT CORP T-10 - Registry model: [Mitchell T-10](https://openairdocs.org/model/mitchell-t-10) (registry code 05666A4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 101 - Engines: Bombardier ROTAX reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Rayburn L. Williams - Registered owner: Joe P. Freeman - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: TN77, ASHLAND CITY, TN - Destination: ASHLAND CITY, TN - Airport: TN77, Whifferdill, runway 5, 3,200 × 125 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 27, 2000; seat: right; flight hours: 25,000 total, 2 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 999° at 4 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: BNA, 5 nm away ## 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 20010723029209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010723029209A), Jul 23, 2001: Amtr MITCHELLT10, Chapmansboro, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) Purpose of the flight was to give the new owner/passenger a demonstration flight. Owner does not have any flying experience. Pilot of the aircraft is an… 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.