# NTSB LAX07CA107: Pietsch IT, N214GP, Douglas, AZ, March 14, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 14, 2007, 12:07 local (19:07 UTC) - Place: Douglas, AZ - Coordinates: 31.342777, -109.506385 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3428&lon=-109.5064&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65429 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65429/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA107 ## Probable cause a loss of directional control during landing due to separation of the rudder cable. A factor was the soft dirt terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, maneuvering - flt control syst,rudder control cable/rod - chafed - flt control syst,rudder control cable/rod - disconnected (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis During landing rollout, the pilot's experimental amateur-built airplane swerved off the runway and nosed over in soft dirt. The pilot-builder had been practicing maneuvers for an air show when the right rudder control cable became disconnected. Safety wire, which secured a turnbuckle connecting two ends of the rudder cable, had chafed against a rudder pedal until the wire broke. Thereafter, the turn buckle unthreaded from the cable ends and the cables separated. The pilot's ability to maintain directional control during landing was compromised. ## Factual narrative On March 14, 2007, about 1207 mountain standard time, an experimental amateur-built Pietsch IT airplane, N214GP, experienced the disconnection of its right rudder cable control while the pilot was maneuvering near Douglas, Arizona. The airline transport certificated pilot had built the airplane. He operated it as a local flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Douglas about 1200. The pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage during landing. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he was practicing for an air show. Following the disconnect, he proceeded to land on runway 21 at the Douglas Municipal Airport. When he was unable to maintain directional control during rollout, the airplane swerved off the south side of the runway whereupon it entered an adjacent soft dirt area, and nosed over. The airplane's canopy broke, and the top of the rudder bent, substantially damaging the airplane. The pilot reported that an examination of his airplane revealed that the right rudder cable separated where two sections had been connected with a turnbuckle. The separation probably resulted from safety wire in the cable's turnbuckle chaffing against the rudder pedal until the wire broke. Thereafter, the turnbuckle unthreaded from the cable ends, and the cable separated. The safety wire's total time since installation was about 240 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N214GP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N214GP), registered now, S/N Z1A-0016, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Pietsch IT - Registry model: [Pietsch Warren IT](https://openairdocs.org/model/pietsch-warren-it) (registry code 05624TF) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: ZIA-0016 - Airframe hours: 240 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Registered owner: Warren Pietsch - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2006 - Departed: DGL, Douglas, AZ - Destination: DGL, Douglas, AZ - Airport: DGL, Douglas Municipal, runway 21, 5,760 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; flight hours: 25,000 total, 220 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F ## 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 20070314007479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070314007479A), Mar 14, 2007: Pietsc IT, Douglas, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) During practice for an upcoming airshow, the right rudder pedal turnbuckle came apart separating the rudder cable from the rudder pedal. This left the… 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.