Summary
On August 18, 2008, a Wheat Excalibur EX (N2505Q) was involved in an incident near Moses Lake, WA. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The right rudder pedal attach rivets sheared due to overload.
The pilot was on a local, personal flight in an experimental airplane that had accumulated 32 hours total time. It was powered by an engine that produced 85 horsepower. While in cruise flight approximately 600 feet above ground level he heard a loud bang and the airplane entered a right turn. The pilot used aileron to counteract the turn; however, the airplane descended into the reservoir below. Post accident inspection showed that the rivets securing the rudder pedals had sheared. During the impact sequence, the fuselage sustained structural damage.
According to the kit supplier, the rudder pedal horns are secured using three rivets per pedal.
This incident is documented in NTSB report SEA08CA184. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N2505Q.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The right rudder pedal attach rivets sheared due to overload.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The pilot was on a local, personal flight in an experimental airplane that had accumulated 32 hours total time. It was powered by an engine that produced 85 horsepower. While in cruise flight approximately 600 feet above ground level he heard a loud bang and the airplane entered a right turn. The pilot used aileron to counteract the turn; however, the airplane descended into the reservoir below. Post accident inspection showed that the rivets securing the rudder pedals had sheared. During the impact sequence, the fuselage sustained structural damage.
According to the kit supplier, the rudder pedal horns are secured using three rivets per pedal. The kit supplier indicated that the rivets could be put under excessive stress while operating the airplane over gross weight and/or powering the airplane with an engine that produces over 65 horsepower. Although there had been no other reports of this kind to the kit supplier, following the accident he suggested to his customers that they check the security of the rivets prior to each flight and if they are loose, replace two of the three rivets with two bolts provided by the kit supplier. All future rudder pedals provided by the kit supplier will be equipped with the bolts.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA08CA184