Cote James RANS S 6S N502CW

Summary

On 4 August 2014 at about 23:30 local time, a Cote James RANS S 6S registered N502CW, operated by Beachy Martin JR, was involved in an accident near New Berlin, Pennsylvania, 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 August 2014 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

New Berlin, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Saurers Field (4PA1)

Coordinates

40.8839, -76.9800

Aircraft

Cote James RANS S 6S

Registration

N502CW

Category

Airplane

Year built

2007

Engines

1

Operator

Beachy Martin JR

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

New Berlin → New Berlin

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14CA385

Nobody was injured.

The passenger's inadvertent interference with the rudder controls during the takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that just after takeoff, the airplane entered "uncoordinated flight to the left." He applied right rudder to correct, but felt that the rudder was ineffective. After clearing trees at the end of the runway, the pilot elected to conduct a precautionary landing in a field. He stated that the airplane's rate of descent was "high," and that the nose landing gear collapsed upon touchdown. The airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall, both wings, and the vertical stablilizer. Examination of the rudder controls revealed no anomalies. According to the pilot, his passenger was "apprehensive" about the flight, and inadvertently applied pressure to the left rudder pedal with his foot throughout the takeoff and accident sequence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.