# NTSB ERA20CA246: Piper PA22, N2716P, Cortland, NY, July 13, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 13, 2020, 09:45 local (13:45 UTC) - Place: Cortland, NY - Coordinates: 42.58889, -76.220275 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5889&lon=-76.2203&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101582 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA246 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101582/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101582 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA246 ## Probable cause The mechanic’s incorrect rigging of the aileron control cables, which resulted in a reversal of aileron control inputs applied by the pilot during the takeoff. Also causal was the mechanic’s inadequate post-maintenance inspection and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and before takeoff check, which failed to detect the misrigging. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: aileron control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022710): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022710/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022710/cases.md) - [Maintenance: installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 371 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Inspection: post maintenance inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061515): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061515/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061515/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was performing a post-maintenance test flight after a "lengthy restoration" of the airplane had been completed by a mechanic, who accompanied him on the flight. After takeoff, the airplane did not respond in accordance with the pilot’s control inputs, so he elected to immediately land the airplane. The airplane impacted the ground off the departure end of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the aileron control cables had been rigged opposite of the proper orientation prescribed in the airplane’s illustrated parts catalog. Both the pilot and the mechanic stated that when they conducted flight control checks prior to the flight, they confirmed deflection of the ailerons, but that they each failed to confirm that the aileron deflection corresponded correctly to the input at the control yoke. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2716P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2716P), registered now, S/N 22-5280, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA22 (150) - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-5280 - Year built: 1957 - Airframe hours: 4065.8 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 13, 2020 - Departed: N03, Cortland, NY - Destination: N03, Cortland, NY - Airport: N03, Cortland County-Chase Field, runway 24, 3,400 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review April 25, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 787 total, 188 in this make and model, 733 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days - Pilot-rated passenger; age 80; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: right; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KITH, 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 20200713009089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200713009089A), Jul 13, 2020: Piper PA-22-150, Cortland, NY, Substantial damage. On July 13, 2020, at approximately 0933 local, N2716P, a Piper PA-22-150, sn: 22-5280, performed an emergency landing immediately after lift-off from runway… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 11, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101582. 153 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10003025&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11941072&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspectors%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Mechanic's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10015905&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20Mechanic-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 553 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10014216&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 149 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10015653&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 406 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11941112&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Release%20of%20Wreckage%20Form_Redacted-Rel.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.