# NTSB ERA11LA154: Cessna 177B, N11625, Reading, PA, February 18, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 18, 2011, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Reading, PA - Coordinates: 40.378612, -75.965278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3786&lon=-75.9653&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 12, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78405 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11LA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78405/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78405 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA154 ## Probable cause Inadequate maintenance inspection of the airplane which resulted in a shift of the shock mounted portion of the pilot's instrument panel, causing an interference of the pitch control during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Indicating/recording systems: instrument panel ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023110): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023110/cases.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023110/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Inspection: scheduled/routine inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520/cases.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 167 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane accelerated and lifted off the runway normally; however, he subsequently noticed that the elevator control could not be moved. He reduced engine power and aborted the takeoff. The airplane struck the runway hard and bounced, before coming to rest. The airplane's nose gear collapsed and the firewall was substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the nut that secured the shock mount to the pilot's instrument panel on the right side was missing. The left side shock mount was sheared. A portion of the instrument panel had shifted downward and the directional gyro housing was in contact with a portion of the yoke control column, restricting its movement. The airplane had been operated for about 60 hours, since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 5 months prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On February 18, 2011, about 1415 eastern standard time, a Cessna 177B, N11625, operated by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff at Reading Regional Airport (RDG), Reading, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, he and the passenger originally departed from Doylestown Airport (DYL), Doylestown, Pennsylvania, at 1200, and flew to RDG without incident, to have lunch. After lunch, the pilot attempted to depart RDG from runway 31, a 6,350-foot-long, 150-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The airplane accelerated and lifted off the runway normally; however, the pilot subsequently noticed that the elevator control was "frozen" and could not be moved. The pilot reduced engine power and aborted the takeoff. The airplane struck the runway hard and bounced, before coming to rest. The airplane's nose gear collapsed and the firewall was substantially damaged. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the nut that secured the shock mount to the pilot's instrument panel on the right side was missing, and the left side shock mount was sheared. A portion of the instrument panel had shifted downward and the directional gyro housing was in contact with a portion of the yoke control column, which restricted its movement. The pilot stated that the flight controls moved freely during his pre-takeoff checks. According to the FAA inspector, the airplane had been operated for about 60 hours, since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed on September 27, 2010. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11625](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N11625), registered now, S/N 17702360, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177B - Registry model: [Cessna 177B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (registry code 2073708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17702360 - Airframe hours: 1650 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 27, 2010, 60 hours before - Departed: RDG, Reading, PA - Destination: DYL, Doylestown, PA - Airport: RDG, Reading Regional, runway 31, 6,350 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 20, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 2,237 total, 100 in this make and model, 2,100 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 17 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.73 inHg - Observed at: RDG ## 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 20110218002499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110218002499A), Feb 18, 2011: Cessna 177B, Reading, PA, Substantial damage. Pilot reported a normal t.o. roll. Aircraft started to lift into the air, pilot went to pull back with no movement on the control yoke. Pilot belives aircraft… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 14, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78405. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 921 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345419&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - NTSB Interview Memorandum (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345409&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Interview%20Memorandum-Master.PDF - Airplane Maintenance Manual (excerpt) (item 3, .PDF, 239 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345413&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Maintenance%20Manual%20(excerpt)-Master.PDF - Accident Report Photographs (item 4, .PDF, 860 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345416&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Report%20Photographs-Master.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.