LUMBERTON, MS, USA
N89694
CESSNA 152
The student pilot stated as he began his takeoff roll the airplane veered to the left. He applied right rudder and the airplane continued to the left. Full right rudder was applied and the airplane jerked to the left. He pulled the power off, applied right brake, and the airplane went off the left side of the runway and nosed over. Examination of the airplane by the FAA revealed the rod end bolt from the right nose steering linkage had failed in bending overstress.
On August 24, 1995, about 1350 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N89694, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight crashed on takeoff at the I.H. Bass Jr. Memorial Airport, Lumberton, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The student pilot stated as he began his takeoff roll the airplane veered to the left. He applied right rudder and the airplane continued to the left. Full right rudder was applied and the airplane jerked to the left. He pulled the power off, applied right brake, and the airplane went off the left side of the runway and nosed over. Examination of the runway surface by an FAA inspector revealed an arc like skid mark about 30 feet long which ended at the edge of the runway. Further examination of the nose gear by the FAA inspector revealed a broken rod bolt through the threaded shank between the locking nut and the bearing head. The rod end from the right nose steering linkage, at the nose wheel steering collar was forwarded to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for analysis. Examination of the rod end revealed it was fractured through the threaded shank between the locking nut and the bearing head. The fracture face on the bearing head was obscured by corrosion deposits, but the mating face was clean. Magnified examination of the clean face revealed features typical of bending overstress separation. (For additional information see NTSB Metallurgist's Factual Report No. 95-143). The component was released to the registered owner on September 15, 1995.
THE FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR, STEERING SYSTEM (ROD END BOLT) DUE TO A BENDING OVERSTRESS SEPARATION WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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