# NTSB CEN09LA486: Gallagher Junior ACE, N413G, Oshkosh, WI, August 2, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 2, 2009, 13:53 local (18:53 UTC) - Place: Oshkosh, WI - Coordinates: 43.984443, -88.556945 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9844&lon=-88.5569&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74432 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA486 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74432/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74432 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA486 ## Probable cause The failure of a weld joint on the right rudder pedal leading to the loss of directional control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: rudder control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Gallagher Timothy M JUNIOR ACE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md?model=05626ID), [All aircraft, 93 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible; cases with it: [Gallagher Timothy M JUNIOR ACE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05626ID), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Gallagher Timothy M JUNIOR ACE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=05626ID), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Gallagher Timothy M JUNIOR ACE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=05626ID), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a crosswind takeoff, a weld on a right rudder pedal failed in overload. The airplane subsequently ground looped. ## Factual narrative On August 2, 2009, about 1353 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Gallagher Junior Ace airplane, N413G, sustained a loss of directional control during a crosswind takeoff from runway 18 (8,002 feet by 150 feet, dry grooved concrete) at the Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The airplane ground looped and subsequently sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airline transport rated pilot and the student pilot were uninjured. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight was not operating on a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for the Poplar Grove Airport, near Poplar Grove, Illinois. The student pilot was seated in the left seat which was equipped with rudder pedals with brakes. The airline transport rated pilot held a certified flight instructor certificate and was in the right seat which was equipped with only rudder pedals. The right seat pilot said that at 50 mph he called "tail coming up." The crosswind procedure at that point required "more right rudder" inputs and his right rudder pedal broke off at its weld. He "yelled" for the student pilot to apply right rudder. The right seat pilot said that the ground loop started and that he closed the throttle. The right seat pilot stated, "I welded finger strap reinforcements to the left set of rudder pedals, although not called for in the plans. ... I would now recommend reinforcements on all rudder pedals." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N413G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N413G), registered now, S/N 61-N, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GALLAGHER JUNIOR ACE - Registry model: [Gallagher Timothy M JUNIOR ACE](https://openairdocs.org/model/gallagher-timothy-m-junior-ace) (registry code 05626ID) (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: 61-N - Airframe hours: 98 - Engines: Rotec R2800 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 24, 2009, 10 hours before - Departed: OSH, Oshkosh, WI - Destination: C77, Poplar Grove, IL - Airport: OSH, Wittman Regional Airport, runway 18, 8,002 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 16,150 total, 72 in this make and model, 10,736 as pilot in command, 245 in the last 90 days, 81 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 9 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: OSH ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74432. 843 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 843 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318005&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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. --- 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.