# NTSB ERA23LA002: Aeronca 7AC, N3005E, Murray, KY, October 2, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 2, 2022, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Murray, KY
- Coordinates: 36.664581, -88.372776 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6646&lon=-88.3728&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: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- 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): 106053
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106053/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106053
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA002

## Probable cause

The incorrect (reverse) rigging of the elevator cables by maintenance personnel and their subsequent failure to verify that the rigging was correct during post-maintenance checks and the pilot's inadequate preflight check.

## Findings

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

- [Flight control system: elevator control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md)
- [Flight control system: elevator control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md)
- [Maintenance: replacement](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062020/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062020/cases.md)
- [Inspection: post maintenance inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061515): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061515/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061515/cases.md)
- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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: [Aeronca 7AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md)
- [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2110102), [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: [Aeronca 7AC, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The airplane had been in maintenance for repair work on the airplane’s tail section. On the first flight after the completed work, following a preflight inspection and engine run-up, the pilot taxied the airplane to the runway for departure. During the takeoff roll, when the pilot applied forward stick controls to raise the tail, the tail did not rise, and the airplane instead “shot straight up, stalled, then descended nose-first onto the runway.” Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. The inspector also noted that the elevator control cables were installed incorrectly such that the elevator moved in the direction opposite to that commanded.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3005E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3005E), registered now, S/N 7AC-6591, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7AC-6591
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 3363
- Engines: CONT MOTOR C85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 2021, 1 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: CEY, Kyle-Oakley Fld, runway 5, 6,200 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 23, 2021; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,900 total, 125 in this make and model, 2,740 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observed at: CEY
- METAR: KCEY 021735Z AUTO 35013G20KT 10SM CLR 23/03 A3019 RMK AO1

## 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 20221002016439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221002016439A), Oct 2, 2022: Aeronca 7AC, Murray, KY, Substantial damage. On the first flight after repair to aft fusealge takeoff was attempted from grass adjacent to runway. When the control stick was pushed forward to raise the…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 11, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106053. 8.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14609240&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA23LA002%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 601 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14610171&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA23LA002%20ROC%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 568 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14610231&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf
- Maintenance log excerpts (item 4, PDF, 7 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14630292&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Log%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14609939&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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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