# NTSB SEA95LA004: Monocoupe 110 Special, N2064, Langley, WA, October 8, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 7, 1994, 18:00 local (Oct 8, 1994, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Langley, WA - Coordinates: 48.040481, -122.44033 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0405&lon=-122.4403&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42076 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42076/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA004 ## Probable cause CORROSION AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE ELEVATOR HINGE ATTACH FITTING WELD. THIS ALLOWED THE ELEVATOR TO BEND AND IMPINGE UPON THE RUDDER, SUBSEQUENTLY JAMMING IT TO THE FULL RIGHT POSITION AND RENDERING THE AIRCRAFT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - normal - flight control,elevator attachment - corroded (cause) - flight control,elevator attachment - fractured (cause) - flt control syst,rudder control - jammed (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - aircraft control - not possible (cause) ## Analysis WHILE DESCENDING TO LAND AND BANKING TO THE RIGHT, THE ELEVATOR PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE AND IMPINGED UPON THE RUDDER. THE RUDDER WAS JAMMED TO THE FULL RIGHT POSITION AND AIRCRAFT CONTROL WAS RENDERED IMPOSSIBLE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE AFTER ALL ATTEMPTS TO REGAIN CONTROL WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE ELEVATOR HINGE ATTACH FITTING WELD HAD CORRODED FROM INSIDE AND FAILED. ## Factual narrative On October 7, 1994, about 1800 hours Pacific daylight time, N2064, a Monocoupe 110 Special airplane, operated by Frederick E. Ludtke, Sr., Freeland, Washington, was substantially damaged during a forced landing into trees in Langley, Washington. The forced landing was precipitated by a flight control malfunction while descending. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight departed from Everett, Washington, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to the pilot, the airplane's rudder jammed into a full right deflection while the pilot was descending through 5,000 feet mean sea level and banking to the right. According to the pilot, "the result was a snap rolling entry into a right spin with the right rudder pedal in the full forward limit of travel." The pilot attempted to control the airplane by applying various levels of engine power and available flight controls. Full aircraft control could not be regained by the pilot. The airplane continued to descend in a bank and a "dramatic skid." The pilot stated that he decided to "slow the airplane down" and settle into trees. The airplane impacted trees and was substantially damaged. Subsequent examination of the airplane revealed that the elevator hinge attach fitting had separated, allowing the elevator to partially detach from the airplane. An examination of the attach fitting revealed that the weld had failed. Corrosion was observed inside a void between the elevator hinge attach fitting base plate and the mating horizontal stabilizer spar. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2064](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2064), registered now, S/N A748, built 1937 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Monocoupe Aircraft 110 SPECIAL (110 SPECIA) - Registry model: [Monocoupe 110 SPECIAL](https://openairdocs.org/model/monocoupe-110-special) (registry code 5810204) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Warner SS165 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/warner-ss165-series) (registry code 64504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: A748 - Engines: WARNER SCARAB 165 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ludtke Sr., Frederick E. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 29, 1994, 47 hours before - Departed: PAE, EVERETT, WA - Destination: WA31, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 380 total, 54 in this make and model, 325 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 7 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PAE, 7 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 19941007034339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941007034339A), Oct 7, 1994: Mncoup 110SPECIAL, Langley, WA, Substantial damage. Rudder jammed into full right during a steep turn. Unable to maintain control for landing. Put it into trees. 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.