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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

October 22, 1994 · Pitts S-1C · N7037W

Galeville, NY

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 22, 1994
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Galeville, NY
Aircraft
Pitts S-1C
Tail Number
N7037W
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC95LA017

THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING ACROBATICS MANEUVERS. HE ENTERED A LEFT SNAP ROLL AT 1800 FEET, AND DURING THE RECOVERY THE RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL DISCONNECTED FROM THE RUDDER CABLE. THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A LEFT SPIN, FROM WHICH THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER. HE ELECTED TO PARACHUTE FROM THE AIRPLANE, WHICH CONTINUED TO SPIN TO THE GROUND. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE AND FOUND THE CLEVIS PIN FOR THE RIGHT RUDDER WAS MISSING.

NTSB Probable Cause

Inadequate maintenance inspection which resulted in disengagement of the rudder clevis bolt and the inflight loss of control during aerobatic manuevers.

Full Narrative

On Saturday, October 22, 1994, at 1600 eastern daylight time, a Pitts S-1C, N7037W, registered to and piloted by George J. Emer, was destroyed by impact with the terrain in Galeville, New York. The pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was performing acrobatic maneuvers, when he lost rudder control. He was unable to recover from the maneuver, and he elected to parachute from the airplane. The airplane continued out of control and impacted terrain. In his report, the pilot stated: I entered a left snap roll at approximately 1800' AGL. On recovery (full right rudder) the right rudder pedal disconnected from the rudder cable. The aircraft entered a left spin...and did not respond to any control input. I jumped out of the aircraft at approximately 700' and deployed my parachute. Mr. Ray Darling, an Airworthiness Inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration, examined the wreckage. In a telephone interview, Mr. Darling stated that he found "the clevis pin for the right rudder cable was missing."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:00 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPitts S-1C
Tail NumberN7037W
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2A · Reciprocating · 150

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data