On March 31, 1983, a Cessna 182 (registration N7364R) was involved in an aviation accident near Batavia, NY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Malfunction of the rudder trim due to excessive clearance between the horizontal drive sprocket and the rear vertical drive sprocket, preventing the pilot from returning the rudder trim to neutral. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During landing, directional control was lost, causing the aircraft to leave the runway and collide with trees. An inspection revealed excessive clearance in the rudder system sprockets.
Incident
During the landing phase, the pilot lost directional control of the aircraft. The airplane subsequently departed the runway and struck trees.
In-Flight Handling
The pilot experienced difficulty maintaining heading throughout the entire flight. This was attributed to a malfunction of the rudder trim system.
Inspection Findings
A post-incident inspection of the rudder system identified excessive clearance between the horizontal drive sprocket and the rear vertical drive sprocket. The measured clearance was 0.05 inch. Due to this problem, the pilot was unable to return the rudder trim to neutral.
Probable cause
Malfunction of the rudder trim due to excessive clearance between the horizontal drive sprocket and the rear vertical drive sprocket, preventing the pilot from returning the rudder trim to neutral.
What happened in the 31 Mar 1983 Cessna 182 accident near Batavia, NY?
During landing, directional control was lost, causing the aircraft to leave the runway and collide with trees. An inspection revealed excessive clearance in the rudder system sprockets.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 31 Mar 1983 involved a Cessna 182, registration N7364R, at Batavia, NY.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
Malfunction of the rudder trim due to excessive clearance between the horizontal drive sprocket and the rear vertical drive sprocket, preventing the pilot from returning the rudder trim to neutral.
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