Accident Details
The pilot reported that during the landing rollout, the left rudder pedal suddenly went slack and moved forward to the firewall. Unable to use the wheel brakes, the pilot observed the tail slowly yaw to the left. The airplane skidded, the main landing gear failed, and the airplane came to a stop on the turf runway.
Investigation Findings
An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration inspected the wreckage and confirmed substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported, and the FAA inspector confirmed, that the left rudder cable turnbuckle was found disconnected and its safety wire was broken. The threads of the cable rod end were not stripped. The last annual inspection on the airframe occurred about five months prior to the accident.