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April 21, 2001 · Cessna 177RG · N8283G

Seattle, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 21, 2001
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Seattle, WA
Aircraft
Cessna 177RG
Tail Number
N8283G
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA01LA075

Just after takeoff, the aircraft started rolling to the left. As the pilot applied right roll inputs, the aircraft accelerated its roll to the left. As it reached a bank angle of approximately 80 degrees, it descended into the runway surface. The flight was intended as a post-maintenance test flight after installation of a replacement set of wings. A post-accident inspection determined that the ailerons had been misrigged so that they deflected opposite to the inputs of the pilot. Neither the pilot nor the mechanic who accompanied him on the flight detected the aileron reversal during the walk-around inspection or the pre-takeoff flight control test.

NTSB Probable Cause

the reverse rigging of the aileron flight control system resulting in aileron deflections opposite that of the pilot's inputs which lead to an uncontrolled descent into the terrain. Factors include the pilot's failure to detect the misrigged ailerons during his pre-takeoff flight control check.

Full Narrative

On April 21, 2001, at 1206 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 177RG, N8283G, impacted the terrain immediately after liftoff from runway 13 Right at King County International Airport, Seattle, Washington. The private pilot received minor injuries, but his passenger was not injured. The aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The local 14 CFR, Part 91 post-maintenance test flight was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. The ELT, which was activated by the accident sequence, was turned off at the scene. According to the pilot, just after liftoff, the aircraft started rolling to the left. He applied corrective right aileron, but that resulted in the roll to the left becoming accelerated. As the aircraft reached a bank angle of near 80 degrees, it descended into the runway surface. After the impact, the aircraft slid backwards about 200 feet before it collided with an unoccupied aircraft that was tied down on the parking ramp. The pilot said that this was the first flight after a replacement set of wings had been installed on the aircraft. The pilot and the mechanic who had signed off the work participated in the flight together in order to check the rigging of the aileron control system. According to the pilot, he and the mechanic performed the walk-around check together. The pilot also performed a pre-takeoff flight control check, during which he determined that the ailerons moved freely, proportionately, and through full travel. During both the walk-around and the pre-takeoff check, neither the pilot nor the mechanic noticed that the ailerons were deflecting opposite the direction of the yoke movement. A post-accident inspection of the flight control system revealed that the aileron control cables had been rigged in a manner which resulted in the aircraft rolling in a direction opposite that of the pilot's inputs.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:06 PDT
Nearest AirportKing County International (0nm)
Runway13R
Runway Length10000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 177RG
Tail NumberN8283G
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-A1BG · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 38 · Third Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 20000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 48
Altimeter30.07 inHg
Observation Time18:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data