Saturday, January 05, 2019

Cessna 177 Cardinal, N3179T: Accident occurred December 19, 2017 at Ridgeland-Claude Dean Airport (3J1), Jasper County, South Carolina

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; West Columbia, South Carolina

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms


http://registry.faa.gov/N3179T




Location: Ridgeland, SC
Accident Number: ERA18LA054
Date & Time: 12/19/2017, 1658 EST
Registration: N3179T
Aircraft: CESSNA 177
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional 

On December 19, 2017, about 1658 eastern standard time, a Cessna 177, N3179T, was substantially damaged when it collided with a hangar during takeoff from the Ridgeland-Claude Dean Airport (3J1), Ridgeland, South Carolina. The flight instructor and the student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the student pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that was destined for the Statesboro - Bulloch County Airport (TBR), Statesboro, Georgia.

The flight instructor stated that he and the student had flown earlier that day and had no issues with the airplane. On the second flight, they performed one takeoff and made a full stop landing without incident before taking off again. The flight instructor, who was seated in the front right seat, said that the student pilot performed the takeoff on runway 21 while he gently held the control wheel with both hands. The student pilot, who was seated in the front left seat, had his left hand on the control wheel and his right hand on the throttle as the airplane accelerated down the runway. When the airspeed reached 65 knots, the student pilot initiated a climb, but the airplane began to "pull to the left." The flight instructor tried to take control of the airplane, but the student pilot continued to hold the control wheel and throttle. The flight instructor said he had good aileron and elevator control as he tried to maneuver away from the approaching hangars and maintain airspeed; however, he could not recall if the rudder pedals were moving when he pushed them. The airplane continued left, touched down momentarily, then bounced back in the air. The flight instructor realized the airplane was not going to clear the hangars, so he shut off the engine with the mixture control. The airplane struck a hangar with the left wing, pivoted, and struck another hangar with its right wing, before coming to a stop. There was no post-impact fire.

The student pilot stated that he remembered adding full power to takeoff and then initiating a climb at 70 knots. He did not remember clearly what happened after that except that they had "no rudder control" and could not maintain runway centerline. The student pilot said the instructor took control of the airplane and the "impact happened so fast."

An on-scene examination of the airplane revealed that it sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and empennage. The propeller blades were also damaged.

The flight controls were checked for continuity. The rudder moved freely and was connected to the rudder pedals, which moved in both directions but was restricted by impact damage from moving to full deflection. The elevator moved but was also restricted due to impact damage. The ailerons could not be moved due to impact damage, but the left aileron was down, and the right aileron was up. The flaps were extended for takeoff and the elevator trim tab was positioned 5° nose down.

The flight instructor received his flight instructor certificate, with an airplane single engine land rating on November 11, 2017. He also had a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single and multiengine land. His last Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) second-class medical was issued on February 17, 2017. The flight instructor reported a total of 525 total flight hours, of which, about 12 hours were in the accident airplane.

The student pilot had not applied for an FAA student-pilot certificate at the time of the accident.

At 1656, weather reported at the Beaufort Marine Air Corps Station (NBC), Beaufort, South Carolina, about 14 miles east of the accident site, included, wind from 240° at 4 knots, visibility 10 miles, and clear skies.

According to FAA Advisory Circular AC-61-23C, Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge:

"The effect of torque increases in direct proportion to engine power, airspeed, and airplane attitude. If the power setting is high, the airspeed slow, and the angle of attack high, the effect of torque is greater. During takeoffs and climbs, when the effect of torque is most pronounced, the pilot must apply sufficient right rudder pressure to counteract the left-turning tendency and maintain a straight takeoff path." 

Flight Instructor Information

Certificate: Commercial; Private
Age: 22, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 02/17/2017
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 11/11/2017
Flight Time:  525 hours (Total, all aircraft), 12 hours (Total, this make and model)

Student Pilot Information

Certificate: None
Age: , Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: None None
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  10 hours (Total, this make and model) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Registration: N3179T
Model/Series: 177 UNDESIGNATED
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1967
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 17700479
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 6
Date/Type of Last Inspection:
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2350 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-320 SERIES
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 160 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: NBC, 37 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 14 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1656 EST
Direction from Accident Site: 90°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 4 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 240°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.09 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 22°C / 13°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Ridgeland, SC (3J1)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Statesboro, GA (TBR)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1658 EST
Type of Airspace: Unknown

Airport Information


Airport: Ridgeland (3J1)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 79 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 21
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 2692 ft / 70 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Minor
Latitude, Longitude:  32.493333, -80.991667 (est)

1 comment:

  1. More right rudder, keep the ball centered. Just remember, "step on the ball"!

    ReplyDelete