# NTSB SEA96LA220: Ralph Taylor Royal T, N2554, Kent, WA, September 25, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 25, 1996, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Kent, WA - Coordinates: 47.399166, -122.190696 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3992&lon=-122.1907&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42469 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA220 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42469/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA220 ## Probable cause in-flight collision with an unknown object. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - object - undetermined (cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while maneuvering the airplane at 2,000 feet, to remain clear of the traffic pattern of an uncontrolled airport, he felt something hit the airplane. The airplane began to vibrate, and the pilot encountered trouble with the flight controls. The pilot declared an emergency to a nearby controlled airport where a landing was made without further incident. Inspection of the airplane revealed that the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer was damaged and bent to one side, and the push rod for the rudder control was broken. No determination could be made as to what kind of object struck the airplane. ## Factual narrative On September 25, 1996, at 1330 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Ralph Taylor, Royal T, N2554, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with an unknown object while the airplane was maneuvering at 2,000 feet near Kent, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight had departed from Auburn, Washington, approximately one-half hour prior to the accident. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that while flying at 2,000 feet, he was maneuvering the airplane to remain clear of the traffic pattern near an uncontrolled airport. While in a turn, the pilot stated that he felt something hit the airplane. The airplane began to vibrate and the pilot stated that he was having trouble with the flight controls. The pilot declared an emergency to the Renton, Washington, control tower where a landing was made at Renton without further incident. After landing, the pilot inspected the airplane and found that the top and the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer was damaged and bent to one side. The pilot also found that the push rod for the rudder control was broken. Further inspection of the vertical stabilizer by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Seattle, Washington, Flight Standards District Office, did not reveal evidence of what kind of object collided with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2554](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2554-2006-11-17), registration cancelled 2006-11-17, S/N RT2, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ralph Taylor ROYAL T - Registry model: [Taylor Ralph T ROYAL T](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylor-ralph-t-royal-t) (registry code 056136G) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: RT2 - Engines: Continental IO-360-C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John F. Staudt - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: S50, AUBURN, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,913 total, 610 in this make and model, 1,768 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19960925030219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960925030219A), Sep 25, 1996: Amtr ROYALT, Kent, WA, Substantial damage. Reported near airport traffic pattern felt something hit homebuilt. Vertical stabilizer was bent. Push rod broken. ## Other investigations on N2554 (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 SEA06LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06LA134), Jul 1, 2006: Taylor Royal T (N2554), Davenport, WA, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering, resulting in a collision with terrain. 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.