Champion 7HC N8560E

Summary

On 4 April 2009 at about 17:47 local time, a Champion 7HC registered N8560E was involved in an accident near Centre, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 April 2009 at 17:47

Classification

Accident

Location

Centre, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Centre Municipal Airport (C22)

Coordinates

34.1650, -85.6350

Aircraft

Champion 7HC

Registration

N8560E

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Centre → Centre

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09LA230

1 person died.

The pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control during climb due to an improperly installed rudder pedal control tube.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses reported that during takeoff the airplane climbed to approximately 20 to 50 feet, rolled to the left into a steep bank angle, and then descended and collided with powerlines and a house. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the right rudder pedal control tube was missing the rod attachment bolt, retainer nut, and cotter pin. According to the airplane manufacturer the push pull tube system discovered during the examination was not installed at the factory and no record of the install was located in the airframe logbooks. Examination of the engine, additional flight control system components, and the aircraft structure revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.