Seat Sliding During Takeoff Leads to Ground Loop

Accident Sequence

During the takeoff roll, the pilot reported that the seat slid to its full aft position. This prevented the pilot from reaching the control pedals. In response, the pilot attempted to abort the takeoff. However, without the ability to control the airplane, it yawed left and entered a ground loop. The ground loop resulted in substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer, right wing, and right aileron.

Postaccident Examination

A postaccident examination was conducted by the NTSB Investigator-in-Charge and Textron Aviation. The examination revealed that the secondary seat stop reel was not installed according to the manufacturer's guidelines. This incorrect installation prevented the primary seat adjustment mechanism from fully engaging into the holes in the seat rail. The failure of the primary seat adjustment mechanism allowed the seat to slide aft during the takeoff roll.