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WPR12CA293

2012-07-04 · Stevensville, Montana, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 32S

Current FAA registration · N2870M

Make / Model
PIPER PA-12
Year of manufacture
1946 · 66 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 hp)
Seats / Engines
3 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19570516
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A2EA60

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The separation of the left rudder control cable from the rudder bellcrank, which resulted in a loss of directional control during landing roll.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the tailwheel equipped airplane suddenly veered to the right. Despite his control inputs, the airplane continued to veer to the right and ground looped which resulted in structural damage to the left wingtip and aileron. Examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed that the nicopress fitting on the left rudder control cable had failed, which allowed the cable to become disconnected from the rudder bellcrank. No additional preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation were reported. The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, the tailwheel-equipped airplane suddenly veered to the right. Despite his control inputs, the airplane continued to veer to the right and ground looped, which resulted in structural damage to the left wingtip and aileron. Examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed that the nicopress fitting on the left rudder control cable had failed, which disconnected the cable from the rudder bellcrank. No additional preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation were reported. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Flight control system-Rudder control system-Failure - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Attain/maintain not possible - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2012_WPR12CA293.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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