The pilot was performing a post-maintenance test flight after a “lengthy restoration” of the Piper PA22 had been completed by a mechanic, who accompanied him on the flight.
After takeoff from the airport in Cortland, N.Y., the airplane did not respond in accordance with the pilot’s control inputs, so he elected to immediately land the airplane.
The plane hit the ground off the departure end of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.
Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the aileron control cables had been rigged opposite of the proper orientation prescribed in the airplane’s illustrated parts catalog.
Both the pilot and the mechanic stated that when they conducted flight control checks prior to the flight, they confirmed deflection of the ailerons, but that they each failed to confirm that the aileron deflection corresponded correctly to the input at the control yoke.
Probable Cause: The mechanic’s incorrect rigging of the aileron control cables, which resulted in a reversal of aileron control inputs applied by the pilot during the takeoff. Also causal was the mechanic’s inadequate post-maintenance inspection and the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and before takeoff check, which failed to detect the misrigging.
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This July 2020 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Prior to checking the ailerons for correct deflection during a pre takeoff check, place at least one of your thumbs UP (both thumbs up if you have both hands on the control wheel, (one thumb up with a control stick) and visually VERIFY that when rotating the control wheel (or pushing the stick over), that your thumb (or thumbs) point to the UPWARD deflected aileron. If you are doing this check in an airplane where you cannot see the ailerons (like a corporate jet that may not have a control deflection indicator on the instrument panel,) hold a dental mirror against the front or side windshield, and you should be able to see at least the outboard portion of the aileron deflect upward when you move the control wheel. I was once asked to do the initial flight test of a homebuilt airplane, and found the ailerons reversed during the pre takeoff check.
You both are very fortunate to have not lost your life in such a difficult situation! 60 years ago in Seattle , WA area I remember a day when we had a pilot take off from a local airport and the mechanic had made the same mistake and it ended up in the pilot dying and not being able to recover fast enough.
I am just 1/2 way through my student pilot training after a lifetime of wanting to and one thing I have noticed are the tragic accidents that continue happening because pilots do not follow-through carefully on their before flight check lists. I hope I am learning how important they are!
Aircraft owners and pilots need to be mindful that maintenance Errors create significant hazard and must act accordingly the most likely time for an aircraft to suffer mechanical problem is on the first flight after maintenance be thoroughly Skeptical anytime Aircraft comes out of the shop your preflight and post flight maintenance test flight or last line of defense against maintenance errors.