# NTSB LAX99LA210: Bellanca BL-14-13, N74476, Taft, CA, June 7, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 7, 1999, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Taft, CA - Coordinates: 35.159008, -119.430076 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1590&lon=-119.4301&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46499 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA210 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46499/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA210 ## Probable cause The pilot's inability to maintain control of the aircraft due to the aileron control cables being crossed and reversed. The pilot's lack of a thorough pre-flight inspection and the pilot not referencing a manual during the repairs on the aircraft is also causal. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - flight control,aileron - reversed (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, owner/pilot mechanic (cause) - aircraft preflight - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - maintenance,installation - improper, owner/pilot mechanic (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The aircraft had just come out of major repair and restoration by the pilot, with the supervision of an airframe and powerplant mechanic, and this was the first flight since the repairs. The pilot stated that he did not reference a manual when making any of the repairs. The pilot did a brief preflight inspection, which only included checking the flight controls for movement, not to verify their correct movement. After departure, about 30 feet agl, the aircraft rolled left, the pilot applied right control inputs, but the left bank angle increased. The left wing tip struck the ground and the aircraft cartwheeled once, coming to a rest 50 feet from the runway. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector examined the aircraft and found the aileron control cables to be crossed and reversed. When interviewed by the FAA inspector, the pilot stated that the aircraft had been examined by the mechanic, but following the inspection, the pilot had made further repairs to the control system without the mechanic's knowledge. ## Factual narrative On June 7, 1999, about 1015 hours Pacific daylight time, a Bellanca BL-14-13, N74476, crashed shortly after takeoff from Taft-Kern County Airport, Taft, California, following a loss of control. The aircraft, owned and operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91, was destroyed. The private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed for the postmaintenance test flight. In a written statement, the pilot said that he was doing a postmaintenance flight, which involved just staying in the traffic pattern. He stated that during the preflight inspection, he only checked the controls for movement and did not verify aileron movement in the correct direction for the cockpit aileron input. He went on to state that upon rotation at 50 miles per hour, he climbed to 30 feet. The aircraft rolled to the left, the pilot responded with right aileron, which just aggravated the left roll. He stated the aircraft's left wing contacted the runway surface and the aircraft proceeded to cartwheel, coming to a rest on the belly. He stated that the aircraft was in the air for no more than 3 seconds. The pilot went on to state that a small fire occurred at the base of the firewall, but was extinguished by the use of a handheld extinguisher. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector from the Fresno Flight Standards District Office interviewed the pilot and examined the wreckage. The pilot stated that he had just finished major repairs and restoration under supervision of an airframe and powerplant mechanic, and this was the first flight after the repairs. The pilot told the FAA inspector that he did not reference a manual during the repairs. Upon completion of the repairs and signoff by the mechanic, the pilot stated that he then made further repairs to the aileron control system without the mechanic's knowledge or ultimate signoff. The FAA inspector found the aileron controls to be crossed and reversed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N74476](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74476-2000-04-04), registration cancelled 2000-04-04, S/N 1615 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca BL-14-13 - Registry model: [Bellanca 14-13-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-14-13-3) (registry code 1201006) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1615 - Airframe hours: 2000 - Engines: Franklin 6A4-150-B3 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Everett R. Williams - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 3, 1990, 10 hours before - Departed: L17 - Airport: L17, Taft-Kern County, runway 7, 3,550 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BFL, 26 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 19990607006599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990607006599A), Jun 7, 1999: Blanca 14133, Taft, CA, Destroyed. Acft rolled to the left after take-off and crashed, other circumstances are unknown.(-23) after extensive maintenance, on initial test flight, a Bellanca,… ## Other investigations on N74476 (1) 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. - [NTSB UNK64X1718](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X1718), May 11, 1964: Bellanca 14133 (N74476), Costa Mesa, CA, substantial damage 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.