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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

September 22, 2022 · Zenith CH 750 · N2992W

Cincinnati, OH

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 22, 2022
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Cincinnati, OH
Aircraft
Zenith CH 750 (2015)
Tail Number
N2992W
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA22LA428

The pilot stated that, during the takeoff roll in the experimental amateur-built airplane, he noticed that “something felt wrong” with his flight controls. The airplane briefly climbed before landing hard on the nosewheel, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall. During a postaccident examination of the airplane, a bolt that attached the control yoke to the flight controls was missing. The missing bolt and a nut were subsequently located within the fuselage of the airplane. The “hardware store” -type nut was not the castle type nut with cotter pin -type that was called for in the airplane’s engineering drawings. Review of the airplane’s maintenance records revealed that it had undergone 3 annual condition inspections since being constructed and that no documented maintenance to, or replacement of the flight control hardware had occurred. Based on this information, it is likely the builder of the airplane used improper hardware to assemble the flight controls, which resulted in the separation of the control yoke from the flight controls and the subsequent loss of control during takeoff.

NTSB Probable Cause

The airplane builder’s installation of incorrect hardware in the control yoke assembly, which resulted in a loss of control during takeoff.

Full Narrative

On September 22, 2022, about 0700 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Zenith CH 750, N2992W, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at near Cincinnati, Ohio. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll he noticed that “something felt wrong.” He reduced power and the airplane started to “bounce” on the runway. The airplane briefly climbed before landing hard on the nosewheel. An examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the engine firewall was buckled. Further examination of the airplane revealed that a control yoke nut and bolt were missing. Both pieces of hardware were subsequently located inside the fuselage. An examination of the hardware revealed that it did not look like any of the other hardware that was attached to the control system, and review of the engineering drawings for the airplane revealed that the separated nut and bolt were not the correct type called for (bolt secured with castle nut and cotter pin). The pilot further described the findings by stating that, “There was a hardware store nut used on the wrong type bolt. Nut came off and bolt fell out [of] elevator control.” A review of the airplane’s maintenance records revealed that it had undergone three annual condition inspections since it had been completed. The records did not note that any work had been performed on the control yoke or replacement of any flight control hardware.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time03:00 EDT
Nearest AirportCincinnati (0nm N)
Runway3R
Runway Length6000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftZenith CH 750
Tail NumberN2992W
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 912ULS · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 57 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind330° @ 13 kt, gusting 23 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point46 F
Altimeter30.05 inHg
Observation Time14:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data