Piper PA-12 N2870M

Summary

On 4 July 2012 at about 19:10 local time, a Piper PA-12 registered N2870M, operated by Johnson James F, was involved in an accident near Stevensville, Montana, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 July 2012 at 19:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Stevensville, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Stevensville Airport (32S)

Coordinates

46.5250, -114.0528

Aircraft

Piper PA-12

Registration

N2870M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Johnson James F

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Moose Creek → Stevensville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12CA293

Nobody was injured.

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

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

Read the full NTSB 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 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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.