- Date
- July 2, 2011, 10:10 local (15:10 UTC)
- Place
- Sparta, TN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N106STemco GC-1B
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Flight control sys malf/fail
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 17, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA Nashville FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110702011509A
- Case key
- 80958
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The improper installation of the right rudder control cable by maintenance personnel, which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, he was unable to correct an uncommanded left yaw with control inputs, so he elected to abort the takeoff. During rollout, the airplane departed the left side of the runway and the landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing spar. A postaccident examination revealed that a "nicopress" fitting on the left rudder cable had failed and disconnected from its bell-crank. The cable fitting had been pressed with an improper tool or technique at installation. The airplane's entire flight control system had been refitted and re-rigged approximately 9 years prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
During the takeoff roll, an uncommanded left yaw could not be corrected with control inputs, so the pilot elected to abort the takeoff. During rollout, the airplane departed the left side of the runway, and the landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing spar. Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that a "nicopress" fitting on the right rudder cable had failed, and disconnected from its bell-crank. According to the Inspector, the cable fitting had been pressed with an improper tool or technique at installation. The airplane's entire flight control system was refitted and re-rigged approximately 9 years prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N106S
- Reported as
- Temco GC-1B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2221
- Airframe hours
- 1,800
- Engine
- Cont Motor C145 SERIES, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 3, 2011
- Departed
- SRB · Sparta, TN
- Destination
- SRB · Sparta, TN
- Airport
- SRB · Upper Cumberland Regional, runway 22, 6,005 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,047 total · 361 in this make and model · 1,027 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
- Observed at
- KCSV, 23 nm away
Docket · 7
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 19, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.0 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N106S · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.