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February 8, 1982 · Rockwell Comdr 112TCA · N4660W

Aurora, OR

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 8, 1982
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Aurora, OR
Aircraft
Rockwell Comdr 112TCA
Tail Number
N4660W
Operator
Dennis Yates
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA82FYM09

During takeoff, the plane was observed to rotate to a steep nose high attitude, then roll into a steep bank, go into a descent, and crash. During the descent, it rolled to a wings level attitude before impacting with the nose slightly down. An examination of the flight controls revealed no preimpact malfunction or failure except that the elevator trim was inoperative. The elevator trim was found in a nose down position. The owner reported the trim button was inoperative, so it would have been set manually. The pilot's seat failed during impact. Impact marks revealed it was in the 9th position from full forward which was 9 1/8 inches from the front of the seat track to the front roller. The 13th position would have been full aft. The investigator was about the same height as the pilot. He reported he could move the control wheel and rudder with no problem when checked with the seat full aft in a similar aircraft. The pilot had only one other flight in that make and model as PIC.

Full Narrative

DURING TAKEOFF, THE PLANE WAS OBSERVED TO ROTATE TO A STEEP NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, THEN ROLL INTO A STEEP BANK, GO INTO A DESCENT, AND CRASH. DURING THE DESCENT, IT ROLLED TO A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE BEFORE IMPACTING WITH THE NOSE SLIGHTLY DOWN. AN EXAMINATION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE EXCEPT THAT THE ELEVATOR TRIM WAS INOPERATIVE. THE ELEVATOR TRIM WAS FOUND IN A NOSE DOWN POSITION. THE OWNER REPORTED THE TRIM BUTTON WAS INOPERATIVE, SO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SET MANUALLY. THE PILOT'S SEAT FAILED DURING IMPACT. IMPACT MARKS REVEALED IT WAS IN THE 9TH POSITION FROM FULL FORWARD WHICH WAS 9 1/8 INCHES FROM THE FRONT OF THE SEAT TRACK TO THE FRONT ROLLER. THE 13TH POSITION WOULD HAVE BEEN FULL AFT. THE INVESTIGATOR WAS ABOUT THE SAME HEIGHT AS THE PILOT. HE REPORTED HE COULD MOVE THE CONTROL WHEEL AND RUDDER WITH NO PROBLEM WHEN CHECKED WITH THE SEAT FULL AFT IN A SIMILAR AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT HAD ONLY ONE OTHER FLIGHT IN THAT MAKE AND MODEL AS PIC.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:15 PST
Nearest AirportAURORA (0nm N)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRockwell Comdr 112TCA
Tail NumberN4660W
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorDennis Yates
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TO-360-C1A6D · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 51 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind350° @ 10 kt
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data