# NTSB NYC98LA133: Cessna 170B, N3493C, Oneonta, NY, June 24, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 24, 1998, 14:20 local (18:20 UTC) - Place: Oneonta, NY - Coordinates: 42.449729, -75.059204 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4497&lon=-75.0592&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39577 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39577/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA133 ## Probable cause The separation of the left rudder cable. A factor was chafing of the cable. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - flt control syst,rudder control cable/rod - separation (cause) - flt control syst,rudder control cable/rod - chafed (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The airplane veered to the right during landing. The pilot attempted a go-around, but had no left rudder response. The airplane continued in a right turn before it settled into some trees about 200 feet from the runway and 110 degrees from the runway heading. Examination of the airplane revealed a broken left rudder cable. The cable was replaced in July 1985, had 454 hours of flight time on it, and was found free of corrosion. Breaks in wire strands varied along a 1-inch section of the cable, and numerous broken strands were bent backwards. The cable break was in the vicinity of where the rudder cable went through a bulkhead, and then through a pulley mounted on the bulkhead's forward side. ## Factual narrative On June 24, 1998, about 1420 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 170B, N3493C, was destroyed during a landing at Oneonta Municipal Airport (N66), Oneonta, New York. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the pilot stated that the airplane veered to the right during the landing. The pilot said he attempted a go-around, but had no left rudder response. The airplane continued in a right turn to a maximum altitude of 60 feet before it settled into some trees about 200 feet from the runway and 110 degrees from the runway heading. On-site examination of the airplane revealed a broken left rudder cable, part number 0510105-1. The cable was free of corrosion, and had 454 hours of flight time on it. According to the aircraft logbook, the cable was replaced in July 1985. Further inspection of the cable revealed that breaks in individual strands varied along a 1-inch section of the cable, and that numerous broken strands were bent backwards. The turnbuckle assembly that connected the cable to the rudder horn was bent about 10 degrees, and where the cable joined the turnbuckle, the cable was bent about 30 degrees. The cable separated approximately 19 inches from the farthest end of the turnbuckle. A review of schematic diagrams revealed that the cable break was in the vicinity of where the rudder cable went through a bulkhead, and then through a pulley mounted on the bulkhead's forward side. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3493C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3493C), registered now, S/N 26536 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170B - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 26536 - Airframe hours: 1505 - Engines: Continental O-300D reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Steven R Mason - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 21, 1997, 30 hours before - Departed: N66 - Airport: N66, Oneonta Municipal Airport, runway 6, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 303 total, 215 in this make and model, 241 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 305° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ALB, 57 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 19980624019809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980624019809A), Jun 24, 1998: Cessna 170B, Oneonta, NY, Destroyed. (.4)The airplane veered to the right during landing. The pilot attempted a go-around, but had no left rudder response. The airplane continued in a right turn… 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.