Accident Details
A Luscombe 8A was taking off from a turf runway. After climbing to an altitude of about 10 feet above ground level, the left rudder cable failed. The airplane yawed to the right, and the left wing and nose contacted the ground. The airplane subsequently came to rest on the right side of the runway.
Aircraft Damage
The left outboard 4 feet of the left wing was curled up. The left main landing gear separated, and the fuselage was twisted.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane. The examination revealed that the left rudder cable had separated at the first pulley under the cabin floor. The separated end of the cable was frayed and displayed evidence of corrosion.
Maintenance History
The airplane had been operated for about 25 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 11 months prior to the accident. At the time of that inspection, a mechanic noted that the control cables were inspected for damage per a required Airworthiness Directive.