Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Loss of Control on Ground: Cessna 195, N2100C; accident occurred August 10, 2017 at Newnan–Coweta County Airport (KCCO), Georgia

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

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia

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


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

Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
 
http://registry.faa.gov/N2100C


Location: Newman, GA
Accident Number: ERA17LA324
Date & Time: 08/10/2017, 1700 EDT
Registration: N2100C
Aircraft: CESSNA 195
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

Analysis 

According to airline transport pilot, during the takeoff roll, the airplane veered left. The pilot tried to correct the turn without success, and the airplane subsequently departed the left side of the runway, struck a taxiway light, and then came to rest in grass adjacent to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot reported that he had owned the airplane for about 1 month, during which time he observed that he had to continuously apply right rudder for the airplane to taxi straight ahead, which he thought was normal for that airplane.

Examination of the tailwheel assembly revealed that, when the rudder pedals were centered, the rudder was also centered. However, the tailwheel remained in a left-turn position and required about 75% right rudder input to center the tailwheel, and with full-right rudder deflection, the tailwheel turned very little to the right. A review of the maintenance records revealed that maintenance, including the installation of a new upper mount assembly and a new tailwheel strut, was performed on the tailwheel assembly about 3 years before the accident. Given the pilot's report that he had always needed to apply right rudder for the airplane to taxi straight ahead, it is likely that the tailwheel assembly was improperly rigged following the previous maintenance.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The improper rigging of the tailwheel assembly, which resulted in a loss of directional control during takeoff. Contributing to accident was the pilot's decision to operate the airplane despite knowing it required excessive right rudder inputs for it to move straight ahead.

Findings

Aircraft
Landing gear steering system - Incorrect service/maintenance (Cause)

Personnel issues
Decision making/judgment - Pilot (Factor)

Factual Information 

On August 10, 2017, about 1700 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 195, N2100C, was substantially damaged during takeoff from Newnan Coweta County Airport (CCO), Newnan, Georgia. The airline transport pilot and passenger were not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.

According to the pilot, he taxied the airplane to the active runway for takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot attempted to correct the turn but was unsuccessful. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, collided with a taxiway light and came to rest in the grass adjacent to the runway.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the fuselage and the right wing was buckled. An examination of the rudder and tail wheel assembly revealed that when the rudder pedals were centered, the rudder was also centered. However, the tail wheel remained in a left turn position. It required approximately 75% right rudder input to center the tail wheel. With full right rudder deflection, there was very little right turn in the tail wheel.

Review of the airplane's maintenance logbooks revealed that maintenance was performed on tailwheel assembly, that included the installation of a new upper mount assembly with channel kit as well as an overhauled tailwheel strut in August 2014. The airplane accumulated 48.5 hours since that overhaul. The last annual inspection was completed on March 23, 2017.

During an interview the pilot stated that he purchased the airplane one month prior to the accident. He operated the airplane a total of about 12 hours, which included 15 landings. He received his tailwheel endorsement on July 27, 2017. He further stated that while taxiing, he had to "keep the rudder in" to taxi straight ahead, which he thought was a normal characteristic of the airplane.

History of Flight

Takeoff
Loss of control on ground (Defining event)
Attempted remediation/recovery
Runway excursion
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport
Age: 56, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Single-engine
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 03/03/2017
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 13000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 12 hours (Total, this make and model), 9600 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 12 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Registration: N2100C
Model/Series: 195 UNDESIGNATED
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1953
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 16085
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 5
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 09/30/2016, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3350 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 15 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2550 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: JACOBS
ELT: C91  installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: R755A SERIES
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 350 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: cco, 970 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site:0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1715 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 0°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 5 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 150°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.1 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 30°C / 25°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Newman, GA (CCO)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Newman, GA (CCO)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 1700 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: NEWNAN COWETA COUNTY (CCO)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 970 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 14
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5500 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude:  33.311667, -84.769722 (est)

No comments:

Post a Comment