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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

March 16, 2020 · Piper PA22 108 · N4837Z

Pinedale, WY

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 16, 2020
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Pinedale, WY
Aircraft
Piper PA22 108 (1961)
Tail Number
N4837Z
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR20LA110

The student pilot reported that he was drifting to the right while on approach to land when the flight instructor took over controls. The flight instructor reported that he applied rudder control inputs; however, the rudder pedals didn’t move for about 6 to 7 seconds and the airplane did not align with the runway. The flight instructor reported that he thought that the glareshield mounted tachometer timing box could have been trapped behind the rudder pedals. The tachometer timing box was located at the accident site and had been thrown from the wreckage. A portion of the instrument panel mounted tachometer housing was found behind the rudder pedals. Further examination of the tachometer gauge revealed damage consisted with impact damage as a result of the accident and did not appear to have interfered with the movement of the rudder pedals. Examination revealed no anomalies with the airframe that would have precluded normal operation. Multiple examinations of the rudder system did not reveal any evidence of a rudder malfunction or jam.

NTSB Probable Cause

A loss of airplane control during approach for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.

Full Narrative

On March 16, 2020, about 1720 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-22-108, N4837Z, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Pinedale, Wyoming. The student pilot had minor injuries and the flight instructor was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The student pilot reported that the flight instructor took control of the airplane on final approach to runway 29 because the airplane was drifting to the right. The flight instructor later reported that after he took control of the airplane, he applied rudder control inputs. He reported that during a 6-to-7-second time period, the rudder pedals would not move. The airplane did not align with the runway and soon after impacted terrain near the runway. Examination of the recovered airframe by an airframe and powerplant mechanic revealed substantial impact damage to both wings, fuselage and engine mount. The left wing, from the side strut to the tip was partially separated due to the impact with the ground during the accident sequence. The left aileron inboard attachment bracket separated from the left aileron bellcrank. Corrosion was noted between the aileron bracket and aileron bellcrank mounting surfaces. The remaining rivet material left in the aileron and bellcrank bracket exhibited overload necking signatures. The airplane's flight control cables were intact. The rudder control cable rear pulleys were unable to be rotated freely by hand. During the flight control cable continuity check, the cables moved past the pulleys with little resistance. Nothing was impeding the rudder pedals from their normal movement. In another follow-up examination, the pulleys were stiff when rotated by hand and the cables were undamaged. The flight instructor reported that he thought that the glareshield mounted tachometer timing box could have been trapped behind the rudder pedals. The tachometer timing box was located at the accident site and had been thrown from the wreckage. A portion of the instrument panel mounted tachometer housing was found behind the rudder pedals. Further examination of the tachometer gauge revealed damage consisted with impact damage as a result of the accident. An NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report was not summited by the student pilot or the flight instructor.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:20 MDT
Nearest AirportRalph Wenz Field (0nm SE)
Runway29
Runway Length8900 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA22 108
Tail NumberN4837Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235 SERIES · Reciprocating
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 79 · Basc · Serious
Crew 2Age 18 · Unknown · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 7500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point28 C / 27 C
Altimeter30.05 inHg
Observation Time10:15
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data