# NTSB CEN12LA410: Steven Bornstein/Thomas Whitta Zenith, N701ZN, Centerburg, OH, June 29, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 29, 2012, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC)
- Place: Centerburg, OH
- Coordinates: 40.30088, -82.689758 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3009&lon=-82.6898&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 13, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 84149
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA410
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84149/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84149
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA410

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inability to actuate the airplane’s rudder during an attempted go-around for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Steven Bornstein/Thomas Whitta ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=056307N), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)
- [Flight control system: rudder control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Steven Bornstein/Thomas Whitta ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md?model=056307N), [All aircraft, 93 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Steven Bornstein/Thomas Whitta ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056307N), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot performed a low approach to the runway and added engine power to go around. As the pilot added engine power, the airplane began to yaw left. To correct the airplane’s yaw, the pilot attempted to depress the right rudder pedal, but he was unable to move the pedal. The airplane was headed for trees, and the pilot added power in an attempt to takeoff and climb over them; however, the airplane struck the “uppermost” branches. The pilot then reduced engine power and performed a forced landing in a shallow pond. An examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal rudder operation. The two sets of rudder pedals were separated by 1.5 inches, and the pilot had only 3 hours in the accident make and model airplane. Although it is possible that the pilot's right foot inadvertently contacted the left rudder controls and restricted the rudder pedal movement, the investigation was unable to determine the cause of the impeded rudder movement.

## Factual narrative

On June 29, 2012, about 0800 eastern daylight time, a kit-built Zenith CH 701 airplane, N701ZN, impacted terrain following a loss of control near Centerburg, Ohio. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane's wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight originated from Centerburg, Ohio about 0730. According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to warm up the engine oil prior to an oil change. After making two overhead patterns at 1,000 feet above ground level, the pilot flew a low approach over the runway. While adding power to go-around, the airplane began to yaw left. The pilot attempted to depress the rudder pedal, but he was unable to move the pedal to correct the yaw. The airplane had turned away from its runway alignment and was flying towards trees. The pilot added more power in an attempt to clear the trees, but contacted the tops of the trees. Having sustained damage, the pilot reduced engine power and performed a forced landing. During the landing, the airplane settled into a shallow pond. An examination of the airplane performed by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed flight control continuity from the rudder pedals to the rudder surface. No preimpact anomalies were detected. The airplane was configured with two sets of flight controls. The distance between left set of rudder pedal and right set of rudder pedals was 1.5 inches. The pilot reported having 3 hours in make and model. It could not be determined if the pilot's right foot contacted the other set of rudder controls.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N701ZN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N701ZN-2018-01-08), registration cancelled 2018-01-08, S/N 6884, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STEVEN BORNSTEIN/THOMAS WHITTA ZENITH (CH 701)
- Registry model: [Steven Bornstein/Thomas Whitta ZENITH CH 701](https://openairdocs.org/model/steven-bornstein-thomas-whitta-zenith-ch-701) (registry code 056307N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Jabiru 2200](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-2200) (registry code 34800, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 6884
- Airframe hours: 25
- Engines: JABIRU 2200 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, April 12, 2012, 25 hours before
- Departed: 6CM, Centerburg, OH
- Destination: 6CM, Centerburg, OH
- Airport: 6CM, Chapman Memorial Airport, runway 27, 3,200 × 80 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; sport pilot, military; medical: sport pilot; last flight review January 15, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total, 3 in this make and model, 300 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observed at: K4I3

## 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 20120629013989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120629013989A), Jun 29, 2012: Steven Bornstein/Thomas Whitta ZENITH CH 701, Centerburg, OH, Destroyed. At 08:00 on 06/29/2012, N701ZN an amateur built zenith, 701 was flying in the pattern at Chapman memorial (C6M). While using runway 27 on the third pass…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84149. 694 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 400 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385336&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1: Accident airplane's rudder pedals (item 2, .PDF, 166 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385354&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Accident%20airplane%27s%20rudder%20pedals-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: Exemplar rudder pedals (item 3, .PDF, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385387&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Exemplar%20rudder%20pedals-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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