# NTSB CEN21LA326: Gary James Lail Zenith CH 750 Cruzer, N9667Z, Blossom, TX, July 17, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 17, 2021, 16:10 local (21:10 UTC) - Place: Blossom, TX - Coordinates: 33.632825, -95.380461 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6328&lon=-95.3805&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 103499 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA326 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103499/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103499 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA326 ## Probable cause The improper swaging of the rudder control cable, which disconnected during flight and resulted in the loss of control. ## 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 · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Gary James Lail ZENITH CH 750 CRUZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md?model=056367Q), [All aircraft, 93 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md) - [Flight control system: rudder control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Gary James Lail ZENITH CH 750 CRUZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md?model=056367Q), [All aircraft, 93 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md) - [Maintenance: fabrication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel; cases with it: [Gary James Lail ZENITH CH 750 CRUZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062025/cases.md?model=056367Q), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062025/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: [Gary James Lail ZENITH CH 750 CRUZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=056367Q), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Gary James Lail ZENITH CH 750 CRUZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=056367Q), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) ## Analysis Immediately after takeoff, the experimental airplane experienced a rudder control malfunction, and the pilot landed back on the runway. The pilot was unable to maintain control, and the airplane departed the runway. During the runway excursion, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings. A postaccident examination of the flight controls revealed that the control cable that should have been connected to the pilot’s left rudder pedal was separated at the point where it had been swaged to the end fitting. The other flight control cables were swaged in a similar manner, and all were done improperly according to the airplane kit manufacturer. There were no other anomalies noted with the airplane. The airplane was built about 3 years before the accident, and the airplane maintenance logbooks did not show any entries related to the rudder cables. Therefore, it is likely that the cables were improperly swaged during the original build of the airplane, and the error was not discovered during subsequent condition inspections. ## Factual narrative On July 17, 2021, about 1610 central daylight time, an experimental Zenith CH 750 airplane, N9667Z, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Blossom, Texas. The pilot and passenger received serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector stated that shortly after takeoff from a private grass airstrip, the airplane experienced a rudder control malfunction. The pilot landed back on the airstrip, but he was unable to control the airplane, which departed the runway and came to rest on a road. During the runway excursion, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings. A postaccident examination of the flight controls revealed that the control cable that should have been connected to the pilot’s left rudder pedal was separated at the point where it had been swaged to the end fitting. The other flight control cables were swaged in a similar manner, and all done improperly according to the airplane kit manufacturer. There were no other anomalies noted with the airplane. The airplane maintenance logbooks revealed that the airplane received an experimental airworthiness certificate in 2018, and there were no entries related to the rudder control cables. The logbook also showed that the last condition inspection was completed on November 18, 2020, “in accordance with the scope and detail of Part 43 appendix D,” and the airplane was “determined to be in a condition for safe operation.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9667Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9667Z), registered now, S/N C75-10349, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GARY JAMES LAIL ZENITH CH 750 CRUZER - Registry model: [Gary James Lail ZENITH CH 750 CRUZER](https://openairdocs.org/model/gary-james-lail-zenith-ch-750-cruzer) (registry code 056367Q) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Ulpower 350I](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ulpower-350i) (registry code 62001, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: C75-10349 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 101 - Engines: UL Power 350i 118 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2020 - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Heads up display, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; medical: basicmed; last flight review May 8, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,210 total, 60 in this make and model, 1,210 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KPRX, 4 nm away - METAR: KPRX 172156Z AUTO 18007KT 10SM FEW050 33/22 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP170 T03330222 ## 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 20210717020399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210717020399A), Jul 17, 2021: Gary James Lail ZENITH CH 750 CRUZER, Blossom, TX, Destroyed. N9667Z, an experimental-amateur-built-aircraft crashed on take off on a private airstrip in Blossom, Texas. The pilot and passenger survived with serious… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 29, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103499. 45.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 11.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13157907&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20Pilot-owner_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 229 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13158317&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Report%20N9667Z%202-Rel.pdf - Correspondence - FAA (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13162468&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Comms%20summary%20-%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 30.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13159612&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Mx%20logbook%20excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13157470&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20photos-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.