# NTSB SEA01LA075: Cessna 177RG, N8283G, Seattle, WA, April 21, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 21, 2001, 12:06 local (19:06 UTC) - Place: Seattle, WA - Coordinates: 47.579162, -122.299407 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5792&lon=-122.2994&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Seattle FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52122 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01LA075 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52122/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA075 ## Probable cause the reverse rigging of the aileron flight control system resulting in aileron deflections opposite that of the pilot's inputs which lead to an uncontrolled descent into the terrain. Factors include the pilot's failure to detect the misrigged ailerons during his pre-takeoff flight control check. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - aileron - reversed, other maintenance personnel (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - descent - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis Just after takeoff, the aircraft started rolling to the left. As the pilot applied right roll inputs, the aircraft accelerated its roll to the left. As it reached a bank angle of approximately 80 degrees, it descended into the runway surface. The flight was intended as a post-maintenance test flight after installation of a replacement set of wings. A post-accident inspection determined that the ailerons had been misrigged so that they deflected opposite to the inputs of the pilot. Neither the pilot nor the mechanic who accompanied him on the flight detected the aileron reversal during the walk-around inspection or the pre-takeoff flight control test. ## Factual narrative On April 21, 2001, at 1206 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 177RG, N8283G, impacted the terrain immediately after liftoff from runway 13 Right at King County International Airport, Seattle, Washington. The private pilot received minor injuries, but his passenger was not injured. The aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The local 14 CFR, Part 91 post-maintenance test flight was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. The ELT, which was activated by the accident sequence, was turned off at the scene. According to the pilot, just after liftoff, the aircraft started rolling to the left. He applied corrective right aileron, but that resulted in the roll to the left becoming accelerated. As the aircraft reached a bank angle of near 80 degrees, it descended into the runway surface. After the impact, the aircraft slid backwards about 200 feet before it collided with an unoccupied aircraft that was tied down on the parking ramp. The pilot said that this was the first flight after a replacement set of wings had been installed on the aircraft. The pilot and the mechanic who had signed off the work participated in the flight together in order to check the rigging of the aileron control system. According to the pilot, he and the mechanic performed the walk-around check together. The pilot also performed a pre-takeoff flight control check, during which he determined that the ailerons moved freely, proportionately, and through full travel. During both the walk-around and the pre-takeoff check, neither the pilot nor the mechanic noticed that the ailerons were deflecting opposite the direction of the yoke movement. A post-accident inspection of the flight control system revealed that the aileron control cables had been rigged in a manner which resulted in the aircraft rolling in a direction opposite that of the pilot's inputs. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8283G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8283G-2001-07-02), registration cancelled 2001-07-02, S/N 177RG0183 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177RG - Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 177RG0183 - Airframe hours: 2631 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1BG 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 20, 2001, 0 hours before - Departed: BFI, Seattle, WA - Airport: BFI, King County International, runway 13R, 10,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 20, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 213 total, 168 in this make and model, 141 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KBFI ## 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 20010421008119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010421008119A), Apr 21, 2001: Cessna 177RG, Seattle, WA, No damage. (-23)Following aircraft maintenance pilot and mechanic took off aircraft to check operation with new wing installation. During take off aircraft encountered… 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.