Event GAA18CA154

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during a return flight, he elected to fly from the right pilot seat, to allow a cargo-handler to sit in the left pilot seat. The taxi to the runway was short and required little rudder input. However, during takeoff, as he added power, he "did not seem" to have full right rudder authority and he was unable to maintain the runway centerline. Subsequently, the airplane exited the left side of the runway, struck a small ridge, and came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left-wing. The pilot further reported that, after the accident, he realized the airplane had stow-able rudder pedals on the right side, and that they had been placed in the "stowed" position. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, during a return flight, he chose to fly from the right pilot seat to allow a cargo-handler to sit in the left pilot seat. The taxi to the runway was short and required little rudder input. However, during takeoff, as he added power, he "did not seem" to have full right rudder authority, and he was unable to maintain the runway centerline. Subsequently, the airplane exited the left side of the runway, struck a small ridge, and came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The pilot further reported that, after the accident, he realized the airplane had stowable rudder pedals on the right side and that they had been placed in the "stowed" position. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Attain/maintain not possible - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• F Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Lack of action-Pilot - F
• — Aircraft-Aircraft structures-Empennage structure-Rudder-Inadequate inspection