# NTSB DEN05LA150: Bellanca 7GCBC, N113AW, Longmont, CO, September 30, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 30, 2005, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Longmont, CO - Coordinates: 40.172222, -105.172225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1722&lon=-105.1722&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 62606 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05LA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62606/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA150 ## Probable cause the failure of the left rudder cable resulting in a loss of directional control by the pilot. Contributing to the accident was the improper repair procedures on the seat frame. ## 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) - maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - improper, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor) - maintenance,recordkeeping - inadequate, other maintenance personnel - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, during the landing roll the student attempted to correct the airplane from drifting to the right by applying left rudder. The rudder input was unresponsive and the airplane continued to drift to the right and departed the runway. The airplane looped to the right and came to rest on the right side of runway, causing substantial damage. Examination of the airplane revealed the left rudder cable failed. Detailed optical examination of the fractured individual wire ends and strands adjacent to the fracture revealed significant wear damage. Examination of the left side of the fuselage at the cable separation point revealed wear marks on the upper, outboard seatback support bar. The seat was removed from the airplane revealing the seat frame had been repaired on the left side. The weld extended the seatback support bar down and aft, preventing it from lining up with the lower seat support bar. This extension entered the travel path of the left rudder cable. An examination of the remaining airplane systems revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On September 30, 2005, approximately 1130 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N113AW, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during the landing roll at Vance Brand Airport (2V2), Longmont, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The private pilot and airline transport certificated flight instructor reported no injuries. The local flight departed approximately 1100. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form submitted by the flight instructor, he and his student were performing touch-and-go landings on runway 26. The instructor stated the last landing was planned as a full stop. He stated that the touch down was good and the airplane was aligned with the runway. During the landing roll, the student attempted to correct the airplane from drifting to the right by applying left rudder. The rudder input was unresponsive and the airplane continued to drift to the right and departed the runway. The airplane looped to the right and came to rest on the right side of runway 26. The left main wing spar was broken, the left landing gear strut was bent aft, and the left rudder cable had separated at its midspan. Two pieces of the left rudder cable with the mating sides of the fracture were sent to the NTSB, Office of Research and Engineering, Materials Laboratory Division, for further examination. Detailed optical examination of the fractured individual wire ends and strands adjacent to the fracture revealed significant wear damage. Many of the individual wires were worn to a knife-edge adjacent to the fracture. Wear had penetrated to the center portion of the center strand. Examination of the left side of the fuselage at the cable separation point, conducted by NTSB and FAA, revealed wear marks on the upper, outboard seatback support bar. The seat was removed from the airplane which revealed the seat frame had been repaired on the left side. The weld extended the seatback support bar down and aft, preventing it from lining up with the lower seat support bar. This extension entered the travel path of the left rudder cable. The airplane logbooks contained no entry regarding the maintenance performed on the seat frame. Neither the flight instructor nor airplane mechanic could recall the seat maintenance being performed within the last 2 years. An examination of the remaining airplane systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: N113AW (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 7GCBC - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 888-76 - Airframe hours: 5888 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A213 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Air West Flight Center - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 1, 2005, 93 hours before - Departed: 2V2, LONGMONT, CO - Destination: 2V2, Longmont, CO - Airport: 2V2, Vance Brand, runway 11, 4,800 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 65; injuries: none; flight engineer, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2004; seat: rear; flight hours: 26,186 total, 298 in this make and model, 17,100 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 235 total, 1 in this make and model, 180 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: FNL, 19 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 20050930033859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050930033859A), Sep 30, 2005: Bbavia 7GCBC, Longmont, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) After normal landing, acft began slight right turn during landing roll. When pilot applied rudder control, left rudder control cable broke resulting in… 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.