# NTSB ERA12CA215: Cessna 140A, N5693C, Mooresville, NC, March 6, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 6, 2012, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place: Mooresville, NC
- Coordinates: 35.608333, -80.738052 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6083&lon=-80.7381&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 15, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83058
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA215
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83058/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83058
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA215

## Probable cause

The separation of the left rudder cable turnbuckle and the pilot’s subsequent loss of directional control during landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Flight control system: rudder control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 93 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071604), [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.

- [Landing-landing roll: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the left rudder pedal suddenly "went slack" and moved forward to the firewall. He was unable to use the wheel brakes, and the tail slowly yawed to the left. The airplane skidded, the main landing gear failed, and the airplane came to a stop on the turf runway with substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Postaccident examination revealed that the left rudder cable turnbuckle was disconnected and its safety wire was broken. The threads of the cable rod end were not stripped. The last annual inspection on the airframe was completed about 5 months before the accident.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during the landing rollout, the left rudder pedal suddenly "went slack" and went forward to the firewall. He was unable to use the wheel brakes, and the tail slowly yawed to the left. The airplane skidded, the main landing gear failed, and the airplane came to a stop on the turf runway. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration inspected the wreckage and confirmed substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported, and the FAA inspector confirmed, that the left rudder cable turnbuckle was found disconnected its safety wire was broken. The threads of the cable rod end were not stripped. The last annual inspection on the airframe occurred about five months prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5693C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5693C), registered now, S/N 15653, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 140A
- Registry model: [Cessna 140A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140a) (registry code 2071604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15653
- Airframe hours: 1853
- Engines: CONT MOTOR C90 SERIES 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gross Thomas E
- Registered owner: Gross Thomas E
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 30, 2011, 40 hours before
- Departed: NC30, Mooresville, NC
- Destination: NC30, Mooresville, NC
- Airport: NC30, Miller Air Park, runway 36, 2,060 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 24, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 3,300 total, 600 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.62 inHg
- Observed at: SVH, 13 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 20120306004209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120306004209A), Mar 6, 2012: Cessna 140A, Mooresville, NC, Substantial damage. Pilot stated his approach and flare for touchdown were normal. Upon touchdown and initial roll out, he felt the left rudder pedal go to the floor and he was…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83058. 7.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 682 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365184&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation with FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365320&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF
- Correspondence with FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365321&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1: Fuselage Damage (FAA Digital Photo) (item 4, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365186&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Fuselage%20Damage%20(FAA%20Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: Separated Left Rudder Cable Turnbuckle (FAA Digital Photo) (item 5, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365187&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Separated%20Left%20Rudder%20Cable%20Turnbuckle%20(FAA%20Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3: Separated Left Rudder Cable Turnbuckle (FAA Digital Photo) (item 6, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365188&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Separated%20Left%20Rudder%20Cable%20Turnbuckle%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.

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