Cessna T210L N93054

Summary

On 1 November 1991 at about 19:13 local time, a Cessna T210L registered N93054, operated by Vincent Vandenbosch, was involved in an accident near Van Nuys, California, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 November 1991 at 19:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Van Nuys, California, United States

Nearest airport

Van Nuys (VNY)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna T210L

Registration

N93054

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Vincent Vandenbosch

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → San Luis Obispo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX92LA031

Nobody was injured.

THE INADVERTENT LOSS OF CONTROL DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF THAT RESULTED FROM THE COLLAPSE OF THE RUDDER PEDAL BECAUSE OF A WORN LOCKING PIN HOLE IN THE RUDDER PEDAL STOWING SYSTEM, WHICH ALLOWED THE PIN TO DISENGAGE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WITNESSES AT THE AIRPORT STATED THAT JUST AFTER THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF RUNWAY 16R, IT IMMEDIATELY BEGAN A VERY TIGHT 360 DEGREE TURN AND CRASHED BETWEEN RUNWAY 16L AND THE ADJACENT TAXIWAY. THE PILOT STATED TO FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) INSPECTORS THAT, AFTER LIFTOFF, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TURNING TO THE LEFT AND TRYING TO DIVE AND THAT HE HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY OVERRIDING THE FORCES ON THE CONTROLS. THE PILOT, WHO IS ALSO A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, STATED THAT HE WAS FLYING THE AIRPLANE FROM THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. FAA INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE AND FOUND THE RIGHT SEAT RUDDER PEDAL COLLAPSED TO THE FLOOR. THE FAA INSPECTOR PULLED THE STOWABLE RUDDER PEDAL INTO THE FLIGHT POSITION, AND IT LOCKED IN PLACE. WHEN THE FAA INSPECTOR APPLIED HAND PRESSURE TO BOTH PEDALS, THE RIGHT PEDAL SNAPPED INTO THE RETRACT POSITION. HE ATTEMPTED THIS SEVERAL TIMES. THE FAA INSPECTOR DISASSEMBLED THE PEDAL AND FOUND THAT THE PIN RECEIVING HOLE WAS WORN OBLONG, ALLOWING THE PIN TO DISENGAGE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.