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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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May 8, 2017 · Piper PA 18A 135 · N245KW

Coeur D'Alene, ID

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 8, 2017
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Coeur D'Alene, ID
Aircraft
Piper PA 18A 135 (1953)
Tail Number
N245KW
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR17LA102

The private pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff for the personal flight, the airplane began to yaw left and that he applied right rudder input in an attempt to regain yaw control; however, the airplane did not respond. The pilot subsequently initiated a forced landing, during which the airplane impacted the ground in a nose-down attitude, and it then came to rest oriented about 90o perpendicular to the runway. Postaccident examination revealed that the forward right rudder cable, between the front and rear seats, had detached at the rear seat foot pedal connection. The cable had pulled through its swage sleeve, indicating that the swage had not been adequately compressed. The cable appeared to have been recently replaced; however, during a review of maintenance records, no logbook entry was found documenting the replacement.

NTSB Probable Cause

The loss of yaw control due to an inadequately compressed rudder swage, which resulted from inadequate maintenance and led to the separation of the forward right rudder cable.

Full Narrative

On May 8, 2017, about 1330 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA18A airplane, N245KW, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from Coeur d'Alene Airport (COE), Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The private pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight. The purpose of the flight was to practice maneuvers in the local area. The pilot, who was seated in the front seat, reported that during takeoff he applied one notch of flaps to assist with a shorter takeoff roll. During the initial climb, the airplane yawed to the left and he applied the right rudder; however, the airplane did not respond. About 50 to 75 ft above ground level, the pilot retarded the throttle, and initiated a forced landing. The airplane impacted the ground in a nose down attitude and came to rest oriented about 90° perpendicular to the runway. On July 20, 2017, the airplane was examined at a secure facility by an NTSB Investigator accompanied by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector. The right rudder pedal was found full forward against the firewall and trapped behind the cabin's front "V" brace. The right rudder cable, between the front and rear seat, had detached at the rear seat foot pedal connection. The thimble remained attached to the rear seat pedal assembly, and the free end of the cable was found loosely threaded through its swage sleeve. The failed rudder cable and swage sleeve appeared bright and clean when compared to the remaining rudder cables in the system, consistent with its recent replacement. There was no annotation in the maintenance logbooks indicating the cable had been replaced. Right rudder cable from rudder intact. Cable thimble to front seat attached, cable missing

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:30 PDT
Nearest AirportCoeur D'Alene - Pappy Boyingto (0nm NE)
Runway20
Runway Length5400 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA 18A 135
Tail NumberN245KW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O320-A2B · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 61 · Third Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57 / 30 C
Altimeter30.17 inHg
Observation Time17:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data