No fatalities

17 Dec 2008: CESSNA 210 — Daleray Madewell — Sheridan, WY

Sheridan, WY, United States

On 17 Dec 2008, a CESSNA 210 operated by Daleray Madewell was involved in an aviation accident near Sheridan, WY. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Maintenance personnel's failure to reinstall the left front pilot's seat correctly, which resulted in the pilot's loss of control and subsequent impact with a taxiway sign. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During takeoff, a pilot's seat slid to the full back position, causing the aircraft to veer left and strike objects. The pilot recovered and landed; damage included a propeller strike and structural damage.

Incident

During the takeoff roll, the pilot's seat abruptly slid to the full back position. This caused the pilot's feet to lose contact with the rudder pedals, and the airplane veered sharply to the left. To avoid taxi signs on the left side of the runway, the pilot rotated the aircraft. Shortly after rotation, an object struck the airplane.

Recovery and Landing

Once airborne, the pilot managed to move the seat forward, climb to pattern altitude, and land without further incident.

Maintenance and Findings

Prior to the flight, during the preflight inspection, the pilot observed a small amount of hydraulic oil pooled by the trim wheel. Maintenance personnel removed the left front pilot's seat to troubleshoot the issue and reinstalled it after the problem was resolved. After the flight, the pilot noticed that the left front seat had not been reinstalled in the seat rail; instead, it was resting on top of the rail.

Damage

Damage to the airplane consisted of a propeller strike, a hole in the undercarriage, and damage to both horizontal stabilizers.

Contributing factors

Incorrect service/maintenanceMaintenance personnel