Great Lakes GL2T-1A-2 N47L

Summary

On 17 August 1996 at about 20:17 local time, a Great Lakes GL2T-1A-2 registered N47L was involved in an accident near Montgomery, Alabama, United States. One person was 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

17 August 1996 at 20:17

Classification

Accident

Location

Montgomery, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Dannelly (MGM)

Coordinates

32.3398, -86.4003

Aircraft

Great Lakes GL2T-1A-2

Registration

N47L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Chapman

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL96LA120

Nobody was injured.

The locked rudder in a fully deflected position which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain directional control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During takeoff, the airplane swerved abruptly to the left, collided with a runway light, then nosed over. During the postaccident examination, it was discovered that the tail steering arm would intermittently lock the rudder in a fully deflected position, with the trailing edge to the left, while allowing the tail wheel to remain aligned with the airplane centerline. Damage to the airplane, such as scuffing of the circumference of the right tire outboard side wall, and no flat spots on the left tire from a locked brake, was consistent with a fully deflected rudder at the time the tail was lifted for the takeoff. The deflected rudder would result in an abrupt swerve to the left when the tail wheel broke contact with the runway. Additionally, the airplane departed the runway about 350 feet from the point the takeoff was initiated, indicating that the swerve commenced about the point the tail would come up during takeoff roll.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.