# NTSB CEN13LA231: Needham Stoddard-Hamilton TD, N95RL, Bloomington, IN, April 14, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 14, 2013, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Bloomington, IN - Coordinates: 39.14611, -86.616668 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1461&lon=-86.6167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 11, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86666 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA231 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86666/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86666 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA231 ## Probable cause The improper installation of a rudder control cable connector and its subsequent separation from the bellcrank, which resulted in the loss of directional control during takeoff. ## 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: [Needham G Ronald STODDARD-HAMILTON TD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md?model=05655VB), [All aircraft, 93 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md) - [Maintenance: installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035): Personnel issues › Task performance · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Needham G Ronald STODDARD-HAMILTON TD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md?model=05655VB), [All aircraft, 371 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Needham G Ronald STODDARD-HAMILTON TD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05655VB), [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: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Needham G Ronald STODDARD-HAMILTON TD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05655VB), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Needham G Ronald STODDARD-HAMILTON TD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05655VB), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Needham G Ronald STODDARD-HAMILTON TD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05655VB), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot lost directional control during the takeoff roll, and the airplane veered off the runway and impacted terrain. A postaccident examination of the flight control system revealed that the right rudder control cable had slipped out of a connector and detached from the bellcrank due to the improper crimping of the connector collar. ## Factual narrative On April 14, 2013, about 1645 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Stoddard-Hamilton TD, N95RL, impacted terrain following a loss of directional control during takeoff at Monroe County Airport (BMG), Bloomington, Indiana. A rudder cable separated at a connector during the takeoff. The private pilot was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The airplane was registered to an individual and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the local flight that was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he applied partial engine power to start the takeoff roll and added right rudder to maintain directional control down the runway. As the tailwheel lifted off the runway, the pilot applied additional right rudder input and added more engine power. The pilot heard something break and lost rudder control. He "quickly" reduced engine power to idle, and the airplane made a hard left turn. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway into soft grass. The airplane came to rested on its nose. The pilot's safety recommendation was "Closer inspection of rudder cable swages. Apply 'slippage indicator', i.e. torque seal, nail polish, to rudder cable at swage." Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector confirmed continuity of the flight controls. When pressing the right rudder pedal there was no response at the rudder. While checking for damage it was noted that the right main gear was severely damaged with a hole in the composite wing and in the side of the fuselage. Both propeller blades were bent from impact with the ground. The right wing tip was scraped, and the navigation light was broken. The right rudder cable was not attached to the bellcrank. The cable slipped out of a connector. The connector collar was not properly crimped, allowing the cable to slip. It was also noted that the left cable appeared to be slipping with very little of the cut end protruding from the connector. The aircraft data plate was made of a material consistent with paper or plastic that did not meet the requirements of Part 45. The aircraft owner stated that the data plate has been on the aircraft since it was certificated in 1994. The maintenance record showed the last condition inspection was dated October 25, 2012, and a record indicated that a single strand of the left rudder cable was broken where it ran over a pulley. The airplane owner said the airplane was inspected every year and there has been no change in the rudder cable strand. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N95RL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N95RL-2013-07-03), registration cancelled 2013-07-03, S/N 609, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Needham Stoddard-Hamilton TD - Registry model: [Needham G Ronald STODDARD-HAMILTON TD](https://openairdocs.org/model/needham-g-ronald-stoddard-hamilton-td) (registry code 05655VB) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 609 - Airframe hours: 1064 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Individual - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 25, 2012 - Departed: BMG, Bloomington, IN - Destination: 1I9, Delphi, IN - Airport: BMG, Monroe County Airport, runway 17, 6,500 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 30, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 135 total, 69 in this make and model, 94 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 12 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: BMG ## 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 20130414005809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130414005809A), Apr 14, 2013: Needham G Ronald STODDARD-HAMILTON TD, Bloomington, IN, Substantial damage. On April 14, 2013, at 1645 EDT, a Stoddard-Hamilton Td registered to [privacy data omitted], departed the left side of the runway on takeoff roll at the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 31, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86666. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 950 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397172&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Examiniation (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397175&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Examiniation-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.