# NTSB ERA20CA252: Furlong CA-6, N12LF, Manville, NJ, July 14, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 14, 2020, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Manville, NJ
- Coordinates: 40.524444, -74.598335 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5244&lon=-74.5983&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- 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): 101610
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA252
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101610/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101610
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA252

## Probable cause

A loss of directional control on takeoff for undetermined reasons.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: heading/course](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Furlong Lou FURLONG CA-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md?model=05604U1), [All aircraft, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Furlong Lou FURLONG CA-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05604U1), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Furlong Lou FURLONG CA-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=05604U1), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Furlong Lou FURLONG CA-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05604U1), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Furlong Lou FURLONG CA-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05604U1), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot had just flown his tailwheel equipped airplane into the airport to purchase fuel, where the flight was uneventful. After purchasing fuel, the pilot performed another flight control check and initiated the takeoff. During the takeoff roll, as the tail came off the ground, the airplane began to pull to the left. The pilot continued with the takeoff but as the airplane climbed to about 40 ft above the ground, it continued to pull left despite right rudder and aileron input. The pilot was unable to stop the turn and attempted to land the airplane. The airplane struck a chain link fence adjacent to airport property and flipped over resulting in substantial damage to both wings, right horizontal stabilizer and elevator, vertical stabilizer and rudder. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintenance inspector confirmed flight control continuity between the cockpit controls and all primary flight controls, including the rudder. Further inspection revealed that the right rudder pedals were displaced full right; however, impact damage of the rudder precluded the ability to conclusively verify proper system operation. The pilot reported that he had no previous operational or mechanical issues with the rudder prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

The private pilot had just flown his tailwheel equipped airplane into the airport to purchase fuel, where the flight was uneventful. After purchasing fuel, the pilot performed another flight control check and initiated the takeoff. During the takeoff roll, as the tail came off the ground, the airplane began to pull to the left. The pilot continued with the takeoff but as the airplane climbed to about 40 ft above the ground, it continued to pull left despite right rudder and aileron input. The pilot was unable to stop the turn and attempted to land the airplane. The airplane struck a chain link fence adjacent to airport property and flipped over resulting in substantial damage to both wings, right horizontal stabilizer and elevator, vertical stabilizer and rudder. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintenance inspector confirmed flight control continuity between the cockpit controls and all primary flight controls, including the rudder. Further inspection revealed that the right rudder pedals were displaced full right; however, impact damage of the rudder precluded the ability to conclusively verify proper system operation. The pilot reported that he had no previous operational or mechanical issues with the rudder prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N12LF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12LF-2021-10-02), registration cancelled 2021-10-02, S/N 001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FURLONG CA-6
- Registry model: [Furlong Lou FURLONG CA-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/furlong-lou-furlong-ca-6) (registry code 05604U1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 001
- Year built: 1998
- Airframe hours: 2490
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540-CIA 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 2020
- Departed: 47N, Manville, NJ
- Destination: 9N1, Erwinna, PA
- Airport: 47N, Central Jersey Rgnl, runway 25, 3,507 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 19, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 455 total, 48.4 in this make and model, 8.5 in the last 90 days, 1.8 in the last 30 days, 0.8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observed at: LDJ, 17 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 20200714010749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200714010749A), Jul 14, 2020: Furlong Lou FURLONG CA-6, Manville, NJ, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed runway 25 at central Jersey airport. After tail started flying, aircraft began turning left. Pilot attempted correction with right rudder.…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101610. 8.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 7.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10001779&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Incident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- NTSB roc - pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10000589&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20ROC%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10002276&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- FAA maintenance inspector's written statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10002072&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Maintenance%20Inspector%20Statement_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.

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