# NTSB CEN19LA219: Fisher Flying Products Super Koala, N220FF, Hazen, ND, July 6, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 6, 2019, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Hazen, ND - Coordinates: 47.29, -101.580833 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2900&lon=-101.5808&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; Fargo FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99826 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA219 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99826/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99826 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA219 ## Probable cause The airplane owner's and mechanic's improper rigging and cable tension of the aileron control system, which resulted in a loss of control during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: aileron control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022710): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Freeman Lloyd C SUPER KOALA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022710/cases.md?model=056236A), [All aircraft, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022710/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Freeman Lloyd C SUPER KOALA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=056236A), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Maintenance: repair](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Freeman Lloyd C SUPER KOALA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062015/cases.md?model=056236A), [All aircraft, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062015/cases.md) - [Maintenance: repair](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Freeman Lloyd C SUPER KOALA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062015/cases.md?model=056236A), [All aircraft, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Freeman Lloyd C SUPER KOALA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=056236A), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Freeman Lloyd C SUPER KOALA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=056236A), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Freeman Lloyd C SUPER KOALA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056236A), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane owner and a mechanic had reassembled the airplane's wings and re-rigged the flight controls; the pilot had subsequently been having trouble with aileron control during test flights. The accident flight was the fourth test flight of the day to diagnose and fix the issue. During takeoff, the airplane "quickly" became airborne and began to roll to the left about 15 ft above the ground. The pilot applied full right aileron; however, the airplane continued to roll left and descend, and the airplane impacted the ground in a left-wing-low attitude, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing spar, bottom fuselage, cowling, engine, landing gear, and firewall. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed improper rigging of the ailerons. The improper rigging and improper aileron cable tensions most likely resulted in a loss of aileron control during takeoff. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 2019, at 1045 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Freeman Super Koala, N220FF, experienced a hard landing during a return to Mercer County Regional Airport (HZE), Hazen, North Dakota, following a loss of aileron control. The commercial pilot was uninjured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the airplane owner under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a maintenance test flight that was not operating on a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight originated from HZE. The pilot reported that the airplane had undergone reassembly of its wings and flight control rigging prior to the flight. On the day of the accident, he performed the fourth test flight of the airplane. He reported the airplane was having issues with the ailerons being fully functional once in flight. The pilot and the airplane owner were attempting to diagnose and fix the issue. The pilot preflighted the airplane, taxied out, performed a run-up, and confirmed the controls were free and correct. During the takeoff form runway 14, the airplane "quickly" became airborne and about 15 ft above the ground began to roll to the left. After applying full right aileron, the airplane continued to roll left and descend, which led to a left wing-low impact with the ground roughly 10-20 ft from the runway. The airplane's left wing spar, bottom fuselage, cowling, engine, landing gear, and firewall were substantially damaged. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Fargo, North Dakota, Flight Standards District Office reported the airplane was purchased by the current owner from an estate. The airplane was disassembled and transported via trailer to Hazen, North Dakota. The airplane owner along with a FAA certificated mechanic assembled the airplane and they told the inspector they had issues with the aileron cable tensions. The airplane owner reported that he called the kit manufacturer but was unable to get the information he needed. After several attempts to properly adjust the aileron cable tensions, they determined that test flights would be needed. Post-accident inspection of the airplane revealed improper rigging of the ailerons and improper cable tensions. Inspection of the airplane maintenance logbook revealed the airplane was not properly signed off for return to service after maintenance. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N220FF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N220FF-2022-07-02), registration cancelled 2022-07-02, S/N 020, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FISHER FLYING PRODUCTS Super Koala - Registry model: [Freeman Lloyd C SUPER KOALA](https://openairdocs.org/model/freeman-lloyd-c-super-koala) (registry code 056236A) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503DCSI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503dcsi) (registry code 55567, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 020 - Year built: 2008 - Engines: Rotax 503DCSI 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Individual - Registered owner: Individual - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: HZE, Hazen, ND - Destination: HZE, Hazen, ND - Airport: HZE, Mercer County Regional Airport, runway 14, 4,999 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: BIS, 46 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20190706009269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190706009269A), Jul 6, 2019: Freeman Lloyd C SUPER KOALA, Hazen, ND, Substantial damage. This aircraft was manufactured from a kit. The wings had been removed to transport the aircraft to Hazen, ND. The aircraft wings were re-installed and a test… ## Other investigations on N220FF (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN10LA498](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA498), Aug 24, 2010: Freeman Super Koala (N220FF), Traverse City, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to the improper torquing of the number one cylinder's spark plug as a result of inadequate maintenance. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99826. 209 KB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - request (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10023710&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report%20Form%206120;%20N220FF_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 8 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10022730&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10022434&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20Master_Redacted-Rel.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.