# NTSB DEN03LA016: North American T-6G, N7197C, Elbert, CO, November 17, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 17, 2002, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Elbert, CO - Coordinates: 39.223609, -104.64083 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2236&lon=-104.6408&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Denver Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 56071 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA016 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56071/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA016 ## Probable cause overload failure of the cable between the left rudder pedal and the tail wheel, rendering directional control impossible and resulting in an inadvertent ground loop and nose over. Contributing factors were the crosswind and the soft, wet ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - flt control syst,rudder control cable/rod - failure,total (cause) - flt control syst,rudder control cable/rod - overload (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - terrain condition - runway - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said that after a short flight, he made a normal landing on runway 17, touching down at 75 to 80 mph. The wind was from 220 degrees at 14 knots. He used left rudder and tail wheel steering to keep the airplane from weathervaning into the wind. About 1,000 feet into the landing roll, the airplane veered sharply to the right. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite braking, but to no avail. The airplane went off the 36 foot wide runway about 40 mph onto soft ground and nosed over. According to the pilot, when the airplane was retrieved, it was noted that the cable between the left rudder pedal pulley and the tail wheel was broken. ## Factual narrative On November 17, 2002, about 1030 mountain standard time, a North American T-6G, N7197C, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during landing roll at Kelly Airpark, Elbert, Colorado. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Elbert about 1015. The purpose of the flight was to take young children on their first airplane ride under the "Young Eagles" program. The pilot said that after a short flight, he made a normal three-point landing on runway 17, touching down at 75 to 80 mph. The wind was from 220 degrees at 14 knots. He used left rudder and tail wheel steering to keep the airplane from weathervaning into the wind. About 1,000 feet into the landing roll, the airplane veered sharply to the right. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite braking, but to no avail. The airplane went off the 36 foot wide runway about 40 mph onto soft ground and nosed over. According to the pilot, when the airplane was retrieved, it was noted that the cable between the left rudder pedal pulley and the tail wheel was broken. Airplane damage consisted of a crushed vertical stabilizer and rudder, left wing leading edge and tip, canopy, spinner and cowling, and a bent propeller. The engine, engine mounts, and firewall were also damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7197C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7197C-2022-05-09), registration cancelled 2022-05-09, S/N 49-2897, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: North American T-6G - Registry model: [North American T-6G](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-t-6g) (registry code 6400432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 492897 - Airframe hours: 6309 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney 41-9754 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Edward Huber - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 21, 2002, 75 hours before - Departed: CO15, Elbert, CO - Destination: CO15, Elbert, CO - Airport: C015, Kelly Air Park, runway 17, 3,800 × 24 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 15, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 6,417 total, 1,242 in this make and model, 6,112 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 6 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 22,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: AFF, 17 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 20021117030649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021117030649A), Nov 17, 2002: Namer T6G, Elbert, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Approach to runway 12 normal, winds 210 at 10 knots. Standard three point landing, with left rudder and normal stick backpressure. Aircraft suddenly… ## Other investigations on N7197C (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 CEN21FA355](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA355), Aug 4, 2021: North American T-6G (N7197C), Starkville, MS, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering at low altitude. 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.