# NTSB CHI06CA106: Waco EQC-6, N16214, Battle Creek, MI, April 5, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 5, 2006, 15:25 local (19:25 UTC) - Place: Battle Creek, MI - Coordinates: 42.30722, -85.251388 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3072&lon=-85.2514&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 63487 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06CA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63487/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA106 ## Probable cause The maintenance facility failed to properly install and inspect the rudder cable system resulting in the reversed rudder condition which made directional control not possible during the aborted takeoff. A contributing factor was an inadequate preflight inspection by the pilot. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, standing - pre-flight - rudder - reversed, other maintenance personnel (cause) - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - aborted - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The single-engine biplane sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff when the airplane veered sharply to the left during the takeoff roll, and the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer impacted the runway. The pilot reported that he used braking action to change direction when he taxied to the runway for takeoff. He stated that the tailwheel was locked while taxiing. The pilot reported that he could not see the rudder when he checked the flight controls prior to takeoff, and he did not have anyone verify the direction of the rudder when he moved the rudder pedals. Once on the runway he added power for takeoff, but immediately reduced power due to the lack of directional control. He reported that he aborted the takeoff before the airplane reached 30 knots airspeed. He reported the airplane "swerved suddenly and extremely sharply to the left causing the wingtips to scrape the runway." The inspection of the airplane revealed that the rudder control cables were rigged backwards. The airplane had undergone maintenance to have the original cable operated brakes replaced with hydraulic brakes. After the hydraulic brakes had been installed by the maintenance facility, the rudder cables were improperly rigged to the control surface. The maintenance facility's inspection of the hydraulic brake installation did not have a procedure in its inspection checklist that required an inspection of the rudder cable installation. The maintenance facility's inspection of the brakes did not detect the misrigged rudder cables. ## Factual narrative The single-engine biplane sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff when the airplane veered sharply to the left during takeoff roll, and the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer impacted the runway. The pilot reported that he used braking action to change direction when he taxied to the runway for takeoff. He stated that the tailwheel was locked while taxiing. The pilot reported that he could not see the rudder when he checked the flight controls prior to takeoff, and he did not have anyone verify the direction of the rudder when he moved the rudder pedals. Once on the runway he added power for takeoff, but immediately reduced power due to the lack of directional control. He reported that he aborted the takeoff before the airplane reached 30 knots airspeed. He reported the airplane "swerved suddenly and extremely sharply to the left causing the wingtips to scrape the runway." The inspection of the airplane revealed that the rudder control cables were rigged backwards. The airplane had undergone maintenance to have the original cable operated brakes replaced with hydraulic brakes. After the hydraulic brakes had been installed by the maintenance facility, the rudder cables were improperly rigged to the control surface. The maintenance facility's inspection of the hydraulic brake installation did not have a procedure in its inspection checklist that required an inspection of the rudder cable installation. The maintenance facility's inspection of the brakes did not detect the misrigged rudder cables. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16214](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N16214), registered now, S/N 4425, built 1936 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Waco EQC-6 - Registry model: [Waco EQC-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-eqc-6) (registry code 9600644) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Wright 760E-2](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-760e-2) (registry code 67011, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4425 - Engines: Wright 760-E-2 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert W. Grist - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BTL, Battle Creek, MI - Destination: C77, Poplar Grove, IL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: BTL, W.K.Kellogg Airport, runway 31 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 620 total, 200 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20060405005919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060405005919A), Apr 5, 2006: Waco EQC6, Battle Creek, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) During takeoff roll on runway 31 the aircraft ground looped. 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.