Centerburg, OH, USA
N701ZN
STEVEN BORNSTEIN/THOMAS WHITTA ZENITH
The pilot performed a low approach to the runway and added engine power to go around. As the pilot added engine power, the airplane began to yaw left. To correct the airplane’s yaw, the pilot attempted to depress the right rudder pedal, but he was unable to move the pedal. The airplane was headed for trees, and the pilot added power in an attempt to takeoff and climb over them; however, the airplane struck the “uppermost” branches. The pilot then reduced engine power and performed a forced landing in a shallow pond. An examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal rudder operation. The two sets of rudder pedals were separated by 1.5 inches, and the pilot had only 3 hours in the accident make and model airplane. Although it is possible that the pilot's right foot inadvertently contacted the left rudder controls and restricted the rudder pedal movement, the investigation was unable to determine the cause of the impeded rudder movement.
On June 29, 2012, about 0800 eastern daylight time, a kit-built Zenith CH 701 airplane, N701ZN, impacted terrain following a loss of control near Centerburg, Ohio. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane's wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight originated from Centerburg, Ohio about 0730. According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to warm up the engine oil prior to an oil change. After making two overhead patterns at 1,000 feet above ground level, the pilot flew a low approach over the runway. While adding power to go-around, the airplane began to yaw left. The pilot attempted to depress the rudder pedal, but he was unable to move the pedal to correct the yaw. The airplane had turned away from its runway alignment and was flying towards trees. The pilot added more power in an attempt to clear the trees, but contacted the tops of the trees. Having sustained damage, the pilot reduced engine power and performed a forced landing. During the landing, the airplane settled into a shallow pond. An examination of the airplane performed by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed flight control continuity from the rudder pedals to the rudder surface. No preimpact anomalies were detected. The airplane was configured with two sets of flight controls. The distance between left set of rudder pedal and right set of rudder pedals was 1.5 inches. The pilot reported having 3 hours in make and model. It could not be determined if the pilot's right foot contacted the other set of rudder controls.
The pilot’s inability to actuate the airplane’s rudder during an attempted go-around for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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