Incident Overview
The pilot reported that following an uneventful takeoff and approximately thirty minutes of flight, the aircraft returned to the airport with the intention of performing touch-and-go landings. Upon entering right traffic for Runway 18, the windsock indicated light and variable winds. During the initial rollout on final approach, the pilot observed the aircraft drifting to the right despite no input to the right rudder pedal.
Pilot Actions and Observations
The turn and bank indicator confirmed the issue, showing the ball fully deflected to the left. The pilot aborted the touch-and-go maneuver, performing a go-around and re-entering the traffic pattern for Runway 18. A second approach was also aborted due to similar handling characteristics. On the third approach, the pilot applied full left rudder pedal input and nearly full left aileron inputs to maintain wings level and fly straight down the runway centerline. However, the pilot noted that left rudder pedal input appeared to have no effect on the aircraft's direction.
Accident Sequence
After performing a wheel landing, the tail wheel contacted the runway surface. Immediately upon this contact, the aircraft swerved violently to the right and departed the paved runway into the grass. The aircraft ground looped and came to rest with the empennage elevated.
Investigation Findings
Post-accident examination of the rudder flight control system revealed that the left rudder cable was off the pulley. A light hand pull on the cable allowed for lateral deflection of one to two inches. The rudder control surface and tailwheel were free to move, with no binding noted in the system. Both rudder return springs were intact, and there was no failure of either rudder flight control cable.
Maintenance History
Maintenance records indicated the aircraft had undergone an annual inspection signed off on November 24, 2001. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had accumulated approximately 22 hours since that inspection. Records showed the aircraft was restored between December 1991 and May 1995. There were no records of work performed on the rudder flight control system in the preceding five years. The Service Manual specifies that rudder cable tension is checked during 100-Hour, 500-Hour, and 1,000-Hour inspections.