Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

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.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

February 19, 2021 · Aviat Aircraft A-1C-200 · N43LL

Carefree, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 19, 2021
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Carefree, AZ
Aircraft
Aviat Aircraft A-1C-200 (2018)
Tail Number
N43LL
Operator
Glasair Iii Investors
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR21LA135

The pilot reported that, during the approach to land, he disconnected the autopilot, and the airplane immediately yawed to the right. The pilot applied left pedal, engaged the yaw damper, and continued the approach. He subsequently disengaged the yaw damper and entered a cross-control slip to descend, and he was unable to make an effective left rudder input. The airplane touched down on the gravel runway surface and veered to the right. The airplane then crossed over to the asphalt runway surface and subsequently ground-looped. The airplane’s autopilot had been installed in the airplane 7 weeks before the accident. Postaccident examination of the airframe revealed that the autopilot hardware installation was substandard. Specifically, the guard pin, which was designed to prevent the bridle cable from traveling out of the pulley’s groove past the sheaves, was not installed to the yaw servo tray and the right pulley assembly, which allowed the yaw servo bridle cable to separate from the pulley’s phenolic sheave. Additionally, the bridle cable, which was undertensioned, became trapped between the yaw servo pulley and the attachment tray and prohibited the pilot from applying left rudder. As a result, the pilot was unable to maintain directional control during the landing roll. The guard pin is designed to prohibit the bridle cable from being able to travel out of the pulley’s groove past the sheaves.

NTSB Probable Cause

The substandard installation of the airplane’s autopilot system hardware, which resulted in a malfunction of the rudder control system during flight and a loss of directional control during the landing roll.

Full Narrative

On February 18, 2021, about 1730 mountain standard time, an Aviat Aircraft A-1C-200, N43LL, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident in Carefree, Arizona. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, after an uneventful 2.9-hour cross-country flight, he configured the airplane for the approach to runway 24 at the destination airport. While descending the airplane, the pilot encountered a “rudder abnormality.” Specifically, the pilot stated that, when he disengaged the autopilot by depressing the red disconnect button on the control stick, the nose of the airplane immediately yawed to the right. To counteract the yawing motion, the pilot applied left rudder, and the airplane responded normally. The pilot then engaged the yaw damper, and rudder control remained normal. During final approach, the pilot disengaged the yaw damper at an altitude of about 800 ft above ground level and maneuvered into a cross-control left slip configuration. He subsequently applied left rudder to align the nose of the airplane with the runway, but the left rudder pedal was not effective, even when it was pressed to the floor. The pilot elected to land in a nose-right crab position. The airplane touched down on the gravel runway surface, veered to the right quickly, and crossed over the asphalt runway surface. The airplane’s left main landing gear collapsed, and its left wing contacted the ground. The airplane came to rest between the runway and the taxiway with the nose of the airplane oriented 180° opposite the intended landing direction. The pilot stated that the airplane had made a “classic ground loop.” A postaccident photograph of the airplane revealed that the left aileron sustained substantial damage. Review of the airframe logbook revealed that the autopilot system had been installed and returned to service on December 31, 2020, with a Hobbs time of 156.1 hours. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accumulated 15.7 hours since the autopilot installation. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the yaw servo bridle cable exhibited no tension and had dislodged from the right pulley assembly attached to the servo tray. The bridle cable was routed under the pulley’s laminated phenolic sheave and was trapped between the yaw servo pulley and the attachment tray. Additionally, the postaccident photographs revealed that a guard pin designed to secure the bridle cable to the phenolic sheave was not present and the attachment tray’s upper and lower surface bore exhibited no evidence indicating that the guard pin had been installed. (The guard pin is designed to prevent the bridle cable from traveling out of the pulley’s groove past the sheaves.) Further examination of the autopilot hardware revealed the following installation deficiencies: o No cotter keys installed on yaw bridle cable to rudder blocks. o Torque on bridle cable clamps nuts unable to be measured with torque wrench because of low torque. Torque estimated to be between 5 and 10 inch pounds. o Gap on both bridle cable clamps measured as 0.026 inches. o Cable tension on bridle cable for yaw servo was 0 pounds. o No torque seal observed on bridle cable clamp at intersection of cable. o Cable tensions on yaw and roll servos was 0 pounds. o Cable tension on pitch servo was 7 pounds. o Torque on yaw and pitch servo guard pins measured to be 0 inch pounds. o Cotter pin missing from castellated nut securing roll pulleys with Part Nos. 115 03343-00 and 115-03344-00. o Cotter key missing from yaw servo pulley.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:30 MST
Nearest AirportSky Ranch At Carefree (1nm SW)
Runway24
Runway Length4029 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAviat Aircraft A-1C-200
Tail NumberN43LL
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorGlasair Iii Investors
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-A106 · Reciprocating · 200
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 72 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point45 C / 12 C
Altimeter30.14 inHg
Observation Time11:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data