# NTSB ATL03LA035: Aviat Husky, N415JB, Dayton, TN, January 11, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 11, 2003, 17:10 local (22:10 UTC)
- Place: Dayton, TN
- Coordinates: 35.48611, -84.931114
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4861&lon=-84.9311&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Nashville FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 56338
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL03LA035
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56338/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56338
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA035

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll which resulted in a loss of control and collision with a ditch. A factor was separation of the spring clip from the landing gear steering system.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - landing gear,steering system - separation (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he had been conducting touch-and-go landings.  During the third landing the airplane veered to the right during the landing roll.  According to the pilot the airplane drifted approximately 75 feet. Efforts by the pilot to correct the right drift of the airplane failed. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway into a ditch. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing had spar damage. The post-accident examination of the airplane revealed the left rudder cable was not attached to the butterfly ring on the tail wheel. The spring clip that connects the rudder cable to the butterfly ring was found approximately 20 feet from where the airplane touched down on the runway. The pilot stated that the main landing gear wheel braking system was operational.

## Factual narrative

On January 11, 2003, at 1710 eastern standard time, an Aviat Husky, N415JB, registered to and operated by N117RK Inc., veered off the runway during a landing on runway 03 at the Mark Anton Airport, in Dayton, Tennessee. The personal flight operated 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 airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight departed Dayton, Tennessee, on January 11, 2003 at 1640.

According to the pilot, he had been conducting touch-and-go landings, and on the third landing, the airplane veered to the right during the landing roll. The airplane rolled approximately 75 feet, and efforts by the pilot to correct for the right drift of the airplane failed. The airplane continued off the right side of the runway, and collided with a ditch.

The post-accident examination of the airplane revealed the left rudder cable was not attached to the butterfly ring on the tail wheel. The spring clip that connects the rudder cable to the butterfly ring was found approximately 20 feet from where the airplane touched down on the runway. The pilot stated that the main landing gear wheel braking system was operational. According to the pilot, approximately two years earlier the tail wheel assembly was replaced. During the two years prior to the accident, the pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the tail wheel assembly.

Examination of the tail wheel assembly revealed that the pawl was installed incorrectly. Examination of the airplane revealed that the propeller was damaged, the left wing had spar damage, and landing gear was bent aft. Runway 03 is 5000 feet long and 75 feet wide.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N415JB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N415JB), registered now, S/N 1463, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Aviat Husky
- Registry model: [Aviat A-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1a) (registry code 2210405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1463
- Airframe hours: 105.72
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ronald E. Brewer
- Registered owner: N117RK Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2002, 22.5 hours before
- Departed: 2AO, Dayton, TN
- Airport: 2A0, Mark Anton, runway 03, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 2, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 305 total, 95 in this make and model, 114 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 1 °F
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observed at: BNA, 120 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 20030111006959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030111006959A), Jan 11, 2003: Aviat A1A, Dayton, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) During landing roll, aircraft veered abruptly to the right, departing the runway. The left main gear, left wing and prop received damage, after the…

## Other investigations on N415JB (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 MIA00LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA216), Jul 6, 2000: Aviat Husky (N415JB), Dayton, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing flare into a crosswind, resulting in a runway excursion off the runway edge and collision of the wingtip with the…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 6, 2006, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56338. 448 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.5 (item 1, .PDF, 339 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438983&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.5-Redacted.PDF
- Record Of Phone Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40214332&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20Of%20Phone%20Conversation-Master.PDF
- Diagram of Wheel Assembly (item 3, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40214333&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Diagram%20of%20Wheel%20Assembly-Master.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.

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