Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary CHI99LA250

UDALL, KS, USA

Aircraft #1

N6726G

Cessna 150L

Analysis

Aileron control was lost on takeoff. The airplane impacted terrain during the subsequent landing. The pilot said 'all [of the aircraft] controls felt normal at the start of the takeoff roll.' The pilot stated 'after lift off the ailerons would not respond to control input.' The pilot stated that he then reduced power to idle and applied left rudder in an attempt to maintain a level attitude. The pilot stated that he was unable to keep the wings level and the aircraft rolled slowly to the right and the right wing contacted the ground. The pilot stated that 'the right wing always seemed heavy on this airplane.' A post accident examination of the aircraft was performed. The clevis bolt for the left aileron cable was not in place. No safety pin was located. There was scarring of the painted surface of the tubing forward of the clevis bolt location. No other anomalies were detected. The aileron cable had been replaced 14.5 operational hours prior to the accident flight.

Factual Information

On July 23, 1999, approximately 1730 central daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N6726G, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain, following a loss of aileron control after takeoff from the Cherokee Strip Airport near Udall, Kansas. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot received minor injuries and his passenger received no injuries. The flight was originating from the Cherokee Strip Airport and was en route to Cook Airfield, Derby, Kansas. In a written statement, the pilot said "all [of the aircraft] controls felt normal at the start of the takeoff roll." The pilot stated "after lift off the ailerons would not respond to control input." The pilot stated that he then reduced power to idle and applied left rudder in an attempt to maintain a level attitude. The pilot stated that he was unable to keep the wings level and the aircraft rolled slowly to the right and the right wing contacted the ground. The pilot stated that "the right wing always seemed heavy on this airplane." A post accident examination of the aircraft was performed. The clevis bolt for the left aileron cable was not in place. No safety pin was located. There was scarring of the painted surface of the tubing forward of the clevis bolt location. No other anomalies were detected. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the aileron cable had been replaced 14.5 operational hours prior to the accident flight.

Probable Cause and Findings

the failure of maintenance personnel to properly safety the aileron control cable during installation, the disconnected aileron control cable, and the unavailability of aileron control to the pilot.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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