# NTSB IAD05LA010: Cessna 172, N8803B, Wolfeboro, NH, November 4, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 4, 2004, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Wolfeboro, NH - Coordinates: 43.587501, -71.266113 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5875&lon=-71.2661&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 60499 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD05LA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60499/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05LA010 ## Probable cause A jammed control wheel during landing. A contributing factor to the accident was the inadequate maintenance inspection of the airplane's flight control system. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - flight controls - restricted (cause) - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - not possible ## Analysis After entering the traffic pattern, the flight instructor was requested by the private pilot to make the first landing. As the airplane passed over the approach end of the runway, the flight instructor attempted to flare for landing three times, but without success. On the third attempt the airplane struck the runway, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the propeller contacted the runway. A post accident examination revealed that the accident airplane's control tee pulleys for the aileron control system would get "hung up" on the radio tray assembly, which inhibited the elevator travel. Numerous components in the airplane's flight control system exhibited wear, and could be moved laterally out of their normal range of travel. The radio mounting assembly also did not include the installation of a vertical support to help assure proper clearance with portions of the airplane's flight control system. No maintenance activity concerning the affected components was noted. The last annual inspection was performed 13 days prior to the accident. During an interview with a mechanic that conducted the annual inspection, he observed wear on one of the components, but believed that it would not be a problem. The maintenance facility's work order form for the airplane also noted that wear was observed on an "aft bulkhead elevator pulley," but no clearing action was recorded for the pulley or the other component. According to the Cessna 100 series service manual, an inspection of the "elevator system for correct rigging and proper travel" was required during an annual inspection. ## Factual narrative On November 4, 2004, about 1445 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172, N8803B, was substantially damaged during landing at the Lakes Region Airport (8B8), Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. The certificated flight instructor and certificated private pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the flight instructor, after entering the traffic pattern for runway 12, the flight instructor was requested by the private pilot to make the first landing. The instructor took over the controls about 1,500 feet and configured the airplane for landing. As the airplane passed over the approach end of the runway, the flight instructor attempted to flare for landing three times, but without success. On the third attempt the airplane struck the runway, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the propeller contacted the runway. A post accident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane's control tee pulleys for the aileron control system would get "hung up" on the radio tray assembly, when the control wheel tube would reach half travel. The control tee pivot and the left instrument panel control tube ball socket exhibited wear, and the control column tee could be moved laterally along a portion of the control tee pivot bolt. Additionally, the radio-mounting tray did not include the installation of a vertical support to help assure proper clearance between the radio mounting tray, and the control tee assembly. A review of the airplane's maintenance history disclosed no maintenance activity concerning the elevator control tee assembly, the left instrument panel control tube ball socket or the radio-mounting tray. During an interview with a mechanic that conducted an annual inspection 13 days prior to the accident, the mechanic observed wear on the instrument panel control tube ball socket, but he believed that the control tube would "scrape by" the instrument panel without any problem. The maintenance facility's discrepancy sheet and work order form for the airplane, also noted that wear was observed on an "aft bulkhead elevator pulley." However, no clearing action was recorded for the pulley nor was the worn control tube ball socket listed on the discrepancy sheet and work order form. Documentation provided by the avionics repair station showed that the transponder had been tested using portable equipment and inspected on October 20, 2004, and did not require any removal or modifications to the mounting trays, under panel components or radios. The operator owned the airplane for approximately 5 years. The airplane had been maintained by another maintenance provider prior to the last annual inspection and with the exception of a recent oil change; the most recent inspection was the first time the airplane had been maintained at that facility. According to the Cessna 100 series service manual, an inspection of the "elevator system for correct rigging and proper travel" was required during an annual inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8803B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8803B), registered now, S/N 36503, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 36503 - Airframe hours: 3663 - Engines: Continental O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bruce R. Gorrill - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 22, 2004, 2 hours before - Departed: 8B8, Wolfeboro, NH - Destination: 8B8 - Airport: 8B8, Lakes Region Airport, runway 12, 2,540 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 55; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 25, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 11,435 total, 500 in this make and model, 9,570 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 95 total, 92 in this make and model, 15 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: CON, 25 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 20041104034459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041104034459A), Nov 4, 2004: Cessna 172, Wolfeboro, NH, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] pilot in command of Cessna 8803B was the flight instructor on this flight. He was also conducting the first touch and go… 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.