NTSB CHI91LA217 — 1991-07-13 · STEVENS POINT, Wisconsin, United States

Current FAA registration · N5968D

Make / Model: PIPER PA-22-150
Year of manufacture: 1956 · 35 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19561126
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A7B725

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N5968D Piper PA22/20 None

Probable cause & findings

THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM RUDDER CONTROL ROD (RUDDER CABLE BELLCRANK TORQUE TUBE) BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE INOPERATIVE TAILWHEEL STEERING.

Factual narrative

THE TRICYCLE LANDING GEAR AIRPLANE WAS CONVERTED TO A CONVENTIONAL GEAR CONFIGURATION USING A SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE (STC). DURING A LANDING ROLLOUT THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO TURN TO THE LEFT. ATTEMPTS BY THE PILOT AND INSTRUCTOR TO STOP THE TURN WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AND GROUNDLOOPED. AND INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT RUDDER CABLE BELLCRANK TORQUE TUBE HAD FAILED. THE RUDDER PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND BROKEN PART DID NOT CONFORM TO THE STC DESIGN. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_CHI91LA217.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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