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June 27, 1998 · Koster Murphy Rebel Murphy REB · N265KK

Arlington, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 27, 1998
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Arlington, WA
Aircraft
Koster Murphy Rebel Murphy REB
Tail Number
N265KK
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA98LA111

Just after liftoff on its first flight after completion of construction, the aircraft started to roll slowly to the right. The pilot applied left aileron, but the aircraft rolled further to the right. The pilot then cut the power and attempted to land with full left rudder and significant left aileron applied. As the aircraft slowed, it rolled left and dropped onto the runway surface. A post-accident inspection of the aircraft revealed that the builder/pilot had rigged the ailerons backwards during construction (attached pushrods to the wrong control stick assembly holes), so that moving the stick to the left would cause the aircraft to roll to the right..

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot/builder's attachment inadequate installation of the aileron control pushrods to the control stick assembly, resulting in the ailerons deflecting in a direction opposite of the input applied by the pilot. Also causal was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which failed to detect the improper operation of the aileron control.

Full Narrative

On June 27, 1998, approximately 1300 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Koster Murphy Rebel, N265KK, impacted the terrain during the initial climb after takeoff from Arlington Municipal Airport, Arlington, Washington. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which had been built and was owned by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 local pleasure flight was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and the ELT, which was activated by the impact, was turned off at the scene. According to the pilot, this was the first flight of the aircraft after completion of its construction. He said that just after liftoff, the aircraft started to roll to the right, so he applied slight left aileron as a correction. Instead of the aircraft rolling back toward the left, as the pilot expected, it rolled even further to the right. The pilot then cut the power and attempted to land while holding a significant amount of left aileron and full left rudder. As the aircraft slowed, it rolled left, the nose dropped, and soon thereafter, the aircraft impacted the runway surface. A post-accident inspection of the aircraft revealed that the builder/pilot had rigged the ailerons backwards during construction (attached pushrods to the wrong control stick assembly holes), so that moving the stick to the left would cause the aircraft to roll to the right. Also, during a post-accident interview, the pilot stated that he had done a hurried pre-flight that day because someone had changed the lock on the hanger where his aircraft was housed, and that had put him a couple of hours behind schedule.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:00 PDT
Nearest AirportArlington Municipal (0nm)
Runway34
Runway Length5333 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftKoster Murphy Rebel Murphy REB
Tail NumberN265KK
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 62 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data