Primary finding
Probable cause
The separation of the left rudder cable turnbuckle and the pilot’s subsequent loss of directional control during landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the left rudder pedal suddenly "went slack" and moved forward to the firewall. He was unable to use the wheel brakes, and the tail slowly yawed to the left. The airplane skidded, the main landing gear failed, and the airplane came to a stop on the turf runway with substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Postaccident examination revealed that the left rudder cable turnbuckle was disconnected and its safety wire was broken. The threads of the cable rod end were not stripped. The last annual inspection on the airframe was completed about 5 months before the accident.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, during the landing rollout, the left rudder pedal suddenly "went slack" and went forward to the firewall. He was unable to use the wheel brakes, and the tail slowly yawed to the left. The airplane skidded, the main landing gear failed, and the airplane came to a stop on the turf runway. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration inspected the wreckage and confirmed substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported, and the FAA inspector confirmed, that the left rudder cable turnbuckle was found disconnected its safety wire was broken. The threads of the cable rod end were not stripped. The last annual inspection on the airframe occurred about five months prior to the accident.