- 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.
On this page
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.
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.