# NTSB ERA11LA403: Murphy Elite, N113SM, Batavia, NY, July 16, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 15, 2011, 20:41 local (Jul 16, 2011, 00:41 UTC) - Place: Batavia, NY - Coordinates: 43.031665, -78.169723 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0317&lon=-78.1697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 6, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81127 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11LA403 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81127/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81127 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA403 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Murphy Aircraft MFT ELITE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=056064H), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Murphy Aircraft MFT ELITE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056064H), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Murphy Aircraft MFT ELITE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056064H), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Murphy Aircraft MFT ELITE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056064H), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was flying the airplane for its first flight after being "rebuilt." After a preflight inspection, which included engine run-ups and a high-speed taxi, the pilot commenced the takeoff. When the airplane was about 8 to 10 inches off the ground, the pilot felt the airplane being pulled up and to the left. He lost control of the airplane, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane nosed over and came to rest off the left side of the runway. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. Postaccident examination verified flight control continuity to the rudder and elevator. Further examination of the aileron revealed that the aileron control rod end fractured due to overstress during the impact sequence. ## Factual narrative On July 15, 2011, about 2041 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built, Murphy Elite, N113SM, was substantially damaged following a loss of airplane control and collision with terrain at Genesee Airport (GVQ), Batavia, New York. The commercial pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported the following. He was flying the airplane for its first flight after being "rebuilt." His intentions were to stay in the local traffic pattern. After performing a preflight inspection and several ground run-ups of the engine, a high-speed taxi was completed. All appeared normal with the airplane, so he initiated a takeoff on runway 10. When the airplane was about 8 to 10 inches off the ground, the pilot felt the airplane being pulled up and to the left. He lost control of the airplane and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane flipped over and came to a stop, inverted, on an embankment off the left side of the runway. The engine "stalled" after the airplane became inverted. An FAA inspector responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. Structural damage to the fuselage and empennage was confirmed. Flight control continuity was established to the rudder and elevator. The end of the aileron control rod was fractured, and the inspector retained the broken parts for further examination. The fractured aileron control rod parts were forwarded to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for examination. The parts consisted of a male rod end fabricated by Aurora Bearing Company, Montgomery, Illinois, as part number MM-4M. Examination of the parts revealed fracture features and macroscopic deformation consistent with overstress failure. Shank thread deformation was consistent with cantilever bending. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N113SM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N113SM-2018-01-09), registration cancelled 2018-01-09, S/N 624E, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Murphy Aircraft Elite - Registry model: [Murphy Aircraft MFT ELITE](https://openairdocs.org/model/murphy-aircraft-mft-elite) (registry code 056064H) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 624E - Airframe hours: 506 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Patrick McCabe - Registered owner: Patrick McCabe - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 12, 2011, 1 hours before - Departed: GVQ, Batavia, NY - Destination: GVQ, Batavia, NY - Airport: GVQ, Genesee County, runway 10, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 26, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 1,814 total, 71 in this make and model, 1,634 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: ROC, 22 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 20110715018109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110715018109A), Jul 15, 2011: Murphy Aircraft Mft Ltd ELITE, Batvaia, NY, Destroyed. A witness reported a loss of control just after rotation. The aircraft yawed to the left and departed the paved surface of runway 10, at kgvq (loss of control… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 13, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81127. 2.7 MB in all. - Materials Laboratory Factual Report 11-108 (item 1, .PDF, 453 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354566&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%20Factual%20Report%2011-108-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 862 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355090&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation with FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355091&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Photo: Aircraft Wreckage, Inverted (FAA Digital Photo) (item 4, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355092&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20Inverted%20(FAA%20Digital%20Photo)-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.