NYC95LA226

The pilot/owner and passenger were performing aerobatic maneuvers at 5,000 feet. At the completion of a snap roll, the rudder was jammed fully to the left, and the airplane continued to roll. Unable to control the airplane, the pilot directed his passenger to bail out at 3,500 feet. Still unable to control the airplane, the pilot bailed out at 2,000 feet. The pilot and passenger parachuted to the ground without injury, while the airplane descended uncontrolled and impacted the ground. Extensive damage to the rudder precluded determining its operational condition.

On September 23, 1995, at 1718 eastern daylight time, a Champion 7KCAB, N6304N, was destroyed when it collided with terrain after the occupants bailed out near Auburn, New York. The commercial rated pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, for the personal aerobatic flight that originated at Skaneateles, New York, at 1630. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot/owner stated that he was performing aerobatic maneuvers with his son at 5,000 feet. He further stated:

...The final maneuver was a snap roll to the left. The snap roll was entered at 85 miles per hour, full aft stick and full left rudder were engaged, which produced a snap roll to the left. Approximately 3/4 through the snap roll I neutralized the rudder, but the roll continued past the upright position...The left rudder pedal was jammed against the fire wall...the deflection of the rudder created a significant yaw turn to the left...At approximately 4,000 feet AGL it was my determination that the plane could not be landed safely ...[My son] exited the aircraft at approximately 3,500 feet AGL...At 2,000 feet AGL I elected to exit the aircraft...Both my son and I were uninjured...and the aircraft impacted within a couple hundred yards of us...

According to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, examination of the wreckage revealed that the airplane was destroyed during impact, and no pre-impact failure of the airplane structure could be determined.