ATL06CA064

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna L-19 · Kenly, NC · April 12, 2006

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 12, 2006, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
Place
Kenly, NC
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N711WNCessna L-19
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 31, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Greensboro FSDO-05
FAA report
20060412008079A
Case key
63533

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's continued operation of the airplane with known deficiencies (tail wheel steering) which resulted in loss of directional control during the takeoff roll, and a ground loop.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterTakeoff - roll/run
Landing gear,steering system - loose
Operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continuedPilot in commandCause
Directional control - not possiblePilot in command
Ground loop/swerve - inadvertent

Analysis

The pilot stated that during his initial takeoff roll he applied full right rudder and gradually advanced the throttle to full power. The pilot stated as full power was attained the aircraft veered to the left, and before he could regain control of the airplane it ground looped. The airplane bounced sideways causing the right main landing gear to separate from the airframe resulting in a propeller strike and the buckling of the right wing. The pilot reported that during the last annual inspection the tail wheel steering springs and chains were replaced. The pilot conducted four flights after the annual inspection and noticed that the airplane steered left, but he did not return the airplane for correction of the problem.

Factual narrative

On April 12, 2006, at 1900 eastern daylight time, a Cessna L-19, N771WN, registered to and operated by a private owner as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced an on-ground loss of directional control during takeoff roll at a private airstrip near Kenly, North Carolina. The airplane received substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot reported minor injuries. The flight was originating from the private airstrip at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated that during his initial take off roll he applied full right rudder and gradually advanced the throttle to full power. The pilot stated as full power was attained the aircraft veered to the left, and before he could regain control of the airplane it ground looped. The airplane bounced sideways causing the right main landing gear to separate from the airframe resulting in a propeller strike, and the buckling of the right wing. The pilot reported that during the last annual inspection the tail wheel steering springs and chains were replaced. The pilot conducted four flights after the annual inspection, and noticed that the airplane steered left. The pilot noted the difficulty on each departure but did not return the airplane for an inspection of the tail wheel steering chains. During the inspection of the airplane by an FAA inspector, and a review of the US Army maintenance manual revealed all maintenance procedures were accomplished in accordance with the Cessna T.O. 1L-19A-2 paragraph 2-254 to 2-257.

Aircraft

Registration
N711WN
Reported as
Cessna L-19
Category
Airplane
Serial number
24501
Airframe hours
6,491
Engine
Continental O-470-11A, 213 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Wallace R Nelms
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 1, 2006 · 22 hours before
Departed
Kenly, NC
Airport
PVT · Kenly Airport, runway 27, 3,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
58
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
May 1, 2005
Seat
Left
Flight hours
2,376 total · 65 in this make and model · 2,249 as pilot in command · 65 in the last 90 days · 23 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
180° at 9 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
15,000 ft broken
Temperature
72 °F, dew point 45 °F
Altimeter
30.26 inHg
Observed at
KRDU, 42 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.