# NTSB WPR15LA024: Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/L, N763DT, Las Vegas, NV, October 26, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 26, 2014, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.080001, -115.152221 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0800&lon=-115.1522&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 16, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 90316 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15LA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90316/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90316 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA024 ## Probable cause The failure of the rudder cable due to tension overstress as a result of the cable’s strength being compromised by wear damage, which resulted in the flight instructor’s inability to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: rudder control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause) - [Flight control system: rudder control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause) ## Analysis The flight instructor was conducting an aerobatic demonstration flight for a pilot-rated passenger, during which the flight instructor was demonstrating the airplane's characteristics to the pilot. The flight instructor reported that he performed a spin maneuver, and during the recovery, he felt the tension in the rudder pedal become completely slack. The pedal moved completely forward, and he realized that the rudder cable must have separated. During the subsequent emergency landing at a nearby airport, the flight instructor could not maintain directional control, and the airplane slid off the right side of the runway. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the rudder cable had separated. The rudder cable showed signatures indicative of a failure due to tension overstress. Several of the wire strands on the cable were damaged by rubbing wear and were either completely worn through or nearly worn through, compromising the cross-section of the cable. The Federal Aviation Administration had issued a special airworthiness information bulletin (SAIB) for this airplane about 3 years before the accident to address similar rudder cable failures. The SAIB recommended that, to mitigate risk, cable inspections should be completed and a protective hose should be installed. A review of the maintenance logbooks found no record indicating that the SAIB had been implemented, and no protective hose was found. The SAIB was not mandatory, and the operator, which operated flights for paying passengers, including aerobatics and air combat demonstrations, chose not to the comply with it. If the operator had chosen to comply with the SAIB, the rudder cable may not have failed. ## Factual narrative On October 26, 2014, about 1130 Pacific daylight time, an Extra Flugzeugproduktions, N763DT, experienced an in-flight rudder cable separation after recovering from an aerodynamic maneuver, and veered off the runway during the emergency landing at Mc Carran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada. Sky Combat Ace was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The flight instructor and pilot-rated passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The aerobatic demonstration flight departed from the Henderson Executive Airport, Las Vegas about 1100. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.The flight instructor stated that the purpose of the flight was to take the passenger on an aerobatic introduction flight where he would demonstrate the characteristics of the airplane. He performed a spin maneuver, and during the recovery, he felt the tension in the rudder pedal become completely slack. The pedal moved completely forward, and he realized that the rudder cable must have separated. The flight instructor declared an emergency, and decided to land at Mc Carran International Airport due to their robust emergency facilities and less of a crosswind. The flight instructor further stated that during landing on runway 19R, he could not maintain directional control, and the airplane slid off the right side. A post accident examination of the airplane was performed by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He found the area that the rudder cable had separated, and it was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Materials Laboratory for further evaluation. The examination revealed that the rudder cable showed signatures indicative of a failure as a result of tension overstress. Several of the wire strands on the cable were damaged by rubbing wear. Several of the damaged strands were either completely worn through or nearly worn through, compromising the cross-section of the cable. There was no obvious indication of material transfer. A Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB), CE-12-01 was issued in October 2011 to address some Extra Aircraft rudder cable failures. The SAIB stated that because the cables are made of stainless steel they are susceptible to corrosion and wear damage. The recommendation to mitigate risk was for cable inspections to be completed, and to install a protective hose on the cable. There was no record of implementation of this SAIB in the logbooks. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N763DT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N763DT), registered now, S/N 1258, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EXTRA FLUGZEUGPRODUKTIONS-UND EA 300/L (L) - Registry model: [Extra Flugzeugproduktions EA 300/L](https://openairdocs.org/model/extra-flugzeugproduktions-ea-300-l) (registry code 70218DN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-l1b5) (registry code 41792, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1258 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 1200 - Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-540-L1B5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Sky Combat Ace - Registered owner: Timebuilders LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 25, 2014, 22 hours before - Departed: HND, Henderson, NV - Destination: LAS, Las Vegas, NV - Airport: LAS, Mc Carran International, runway 19R, 8,988 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Video recording device, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 26; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 400 total, 140 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KLAS, 1 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 20141026021149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141026021149A), Oct 26, 2014: Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/L, Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. On 10-26-2014 an Extra 300 aircraft, N763DT, conducting a commercial flight under 14 CFR part 91, experienced a loss of rudder control while recovering from an… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 28, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90316. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 658 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439436&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) CE-12-01 (item 2, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439437&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Special%20Airworthiness%20Information%20Bulletin%20(SAIB)%20CE-12-01-Master.PDF - Cable Fracture Report (item 3, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439438&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cable%20Fracture%20Report-Master.PDF - Photographs of Cable (item 4, .PDF, 479 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439439&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photographs%20of%20Cable-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.