Accident Overview
On October 4, 2013, about 1420 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22, registration N170JH, impacted the runway immediately after takeoff from Penn Valley Airport (SEG) in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. The private pilot and a passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 without a filed flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight.
Pilot Account
The pilot reported completing the before takeoff checklist, which included a flight control check of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, though he could not see the elevator from the pilot seat. After taxiing onto the runway and applying full throttle, he pushed the yoke forward to raise the tailwheel. The airplane departed the runway. He again pushed the yoke forward, but the airplane continued climbing at low airspeed. Reducing engine power caused the nose to lower. He pulled back on the yoke to arrest the descent, but the airplane descended at a higher rate. He applied nose-up trim, but the airplane impacted the runway. The pilot did not recall events after impact.
Witness Observation
A witness saw the airplane taxi on the parallel taxiway, enter the runway without stopping, and begin the takeoff roll. Immediately after the main landing gear left the runway, the airplane entered a vertical climb. The nose then dropped, and the airplane descended vertically in a slight left turn, impacting the runway. The impact caused substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.
Maintenance History
According to the airplane maintenance logbooks, an annual inspection was recorded on August 22, 2013, at a total time of 3425.6 hours. During that inspection, the left and right elevator cables were replaced due to fraying. A postaccident examination revealed the tachometer indicated a total time of 3425.9 hours.
Mechanic Interviews
Mechanics who performed the annual maintenance stated they replaced the frayed elevator cables. They routed the new cables with part tags attached, and a second mechanic confirmed the installation. They performed a flight control check using the control column. After checking, one mechanic noticed a bolt was too short, removed one cable, replaced the bolt with a longer one, and reattached the elevator cable. They stated they did not verify the cable rigging using a maintenance manual; instead, they used the illustrated parts catalog. They confirmed the correct routing from the elevator cables to the control yoke.
Postaccident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and determined that the elevator control cables moved the opposite direction as commanded. When the cable corresponding to pushing the yoke forward was operated, the elevator moved upward (nose-up attitude). When the cable corresponding to pulling the yoke aft was operated, the elevator moved downward (nose-down attitude). This reversal contradicted the intended control response.
Relevant Manual Instructions
The Piper PA-22 owner's handbook, in the "Preflight" section, states that the pilot should ascertain that all controls operate normally. The "Maintenance" section, under "Leveling and Rigging," outlines a procedure for rigging the control system, including centering controlled surfaces, checking in flight for proper trim, and adjusting the aileron tab if needed. The Piper Tri-Pacer Inspection Report includes a task to inspect rudder, elevator, and stabilizer trim cables for safety, damage, corrosion, and operation.
The accident sequence and the reversed control cable installation underscore the importance of proper maintenance practices and control system checks.