Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 180J near Nome, AK — 2014-12-20

Final reportANC15IA006
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Date
2014-12-20
Location
Nome, AK, USA
Airport
PAOM
Aircraft
CESSNA 180J
Registration
N393B
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The disengagement and subsequent binding of the right tailwheel steering cable, which disabled the rudder system.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff, the airplane made an uncommanded hard right turn. He attempted to correct for the right turn with left rudder, but the airplane continued turning right. The pilot then input nearly full left aileron, and the airplane began a gradual left turn. After the pilot returned the ailerons to the neutral position, the airplane again immediately turned right. The pilot corrected with left aileron and then made an emergency landing to the departure runway. During the emergency landing, the airplane veered right, exited the runway, and impacted a snow berm, which resulted in minor damage to the landing gear. Examination of the rudder control system revealed that the right tailwheel steering cable had jumped off its pulley and became bound between the pulley and the pulley bracket, which disabled the rudder system. The pulley's guard pin was in place, and the steering cable had separated about 9 inches from the rudder bellcrank and exhibited features consistent with overload.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff after initial control anomaly.

NTSB coding

  • Flight control sys malf/fail · Takeoff

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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