# NTSB LAX99LA074: Abraham J G II/Erickson K ONE Design, N857JA, No Las Vegas, NV, January 17, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 17, 1999, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: No Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.120628, -115.080673 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1206&lon=-115.0807&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45665 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45665/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA074 ## Probable cause The separation of the left rudder control cable from the rudder horn due to the improper installation of a nicopress fitting that secured the cable to the control horn. ## 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 attach points - separation (cause) - maintenance,installation - improper, owner/builder (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command - bail-out/emergency ejection - performed, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot indicated the purpose of the flight was to practice outside snap rolls. When he pressed on the left rudder pedal, it went all the way to the floor with no resistance. He reported that the airplane was in straight and level flight when he reached down to verify that the cable was detached, hoping to be able to control the airplane when he realized that the cable was slack from the rear of the airplane. He then informed the tower of the emergency. The airplane entered a right bank from which the pilot could not recover and he jumped out of the airplane and parachuted to safety. The airplane wreckage was examined. The right rudder cable was found continuous from the cockpit pedal to the rudder control horn, with the horn end of the cable secured with a nicopress fitting. The left rudder cable was attached to the cockpit pedal but was detached from the rudder horn. The left cable to horn nicopress fitting was not on the cable's horn end and the left rudder cable end exhibited long and even splaying. When the cable was stretched out, it went all the way back to the rudder horn and was nearly identical in length to the right cable. A search of the accident site failed to locate the missing nicopress fitting. ## Factual narrative On January 17, 1999, at 1330 hours Pacific standard time an experimental Abraham One Design airplane, N857JA, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering approximately 14 miles north of the North Las Vegas Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight and no flight plan was filed. The pilot/owner, the sole occupant, parachuted from the airplane and was not injured. The flight had departed the North Las Vegas airport at 1300. In an interview with the Safety Board investigator, the pilot reported that he had gone out to the practice area to practice outside snap rolls. He stated that he had entered the snap roll at 5,500 feet mean sea level. The pilot reported that while in straight and level flight he "stomped" on the left rudder and reported that the rudder pedal went all the way to the floor. He reported that the airplane was in straight and level flight when he reached down to verify that the cable was detached, hoping to hand fly it when he realized that the cable was slack from the rear of the airplane. He then informed the tower of the emergency. The airplane entered a right bank from which the pilot could not recover and he jumped out of the airplane and parachuted to safety. The pilot reported that there were no further mechanical malfunctions noted with the airplane or engine beyond the rudder control system. An officer from the North Las Vegas Police Department Aero Bureau unit responded to the accident site and examined the airplane wreckage. The right rudder cable was found continuous from the cockpit pedal to the rudder control horn, with the horn end of the cable secured with a nicopress fitting. The left rudder cable was attached to the cockpit pedal but was detached from the rudder horn. The left cable to horn nicopress fitting was not on the cable's horn end. He noted that the left rudder cable end exhibited long and even splaying. He reported that when the cable was stretched out, it went all the way back to the rudder horn and was nearly identical in length to the right cable. A search of the accident site failed to locate the missing nicopress fitting. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N857JA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N857JA-2000-04-06), registration cancelled 2000-04-06, S/N 94-0004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Abraham J G II/Erickson K ONE DESIGN - Registry model: [Abraham J G II/Erickson K ONE DESIGN](https://openairdocs.org/model/abraham-j-g-ii-erickson-k-one-design) (registry code 05606HI) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0004 - Airframe hours: 66 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James G Abraham II - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: VGT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 640 total, 25 in this make and model, 525 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: VGT, 14 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 19990117000529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990117000529A), Jan 17, 1999: Amtr ONEDESIGN, Las Vegas, NV, Destroyed. Pilot contacted a local controller and advised that the acft was experiencing control problems and that he was going to abandon the acft. Other circumstances… 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.