Parts & Pieces Matter
June 13, 2013 by Bruce Landsberg
In about 10 to 15 percent of GA accidents something mechanical broke or failed to work as planned. Usually it’s the engine, sometimes the landing gear (retractable), and very seldom the flight controls. But if ever there were a place for Murphy to cause mischief that might be it.
Here’s why: Flight controls almost always work. The systems are relatively simple, well-designed, and robust. They are checked on every annual (supposedly), and I would guess that 99.999 percent of the time everything is good.
But a recent NASA ASRS report indicates that just when you thought it was OK to ignore that most reliable system…
Weather: clear, wind 030 at 7 kts. Student was landing on Runway 08. Upon touchdown the airplane veered significantly to the left. Student attempted to straighten the ground roll using rudders. Student then stated she could not move the rudder. Instructor immediately initiated a go around. Once airborne and stable, instructor verified rudder pedal was ‘stuck.’ Upon visual inspection, instructor noticed that the bushing holding the left rear rudder pedal had come loose when the cotter pin had come off and bushing had become lodged into the side wall of the airplane. Instructor managed to reposition the bushing and landed without incident. Mechanic replaced the cotter pin and verified aircraft was airworthy.
Although this flight ended without incident, it could have been catastrophic had either a less-experienced PIC and/or a more aggressive maneuver (spin) been in operation. My suggestion is to “wiggle” the rudder pedals prior to spin entry and landings to ensure the rudder pedals are not stuck. A visual inspection would not hurt either.
We don’t know the general condition of the aircraft, so it’s possible that the cotter pin was just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, but it does serve as a reminder that all those seemingly inconsequential pieces can become critical at exactly the wrong time. Has anyone suffered a similar or worse mishap?

The thunderstorm season is in full swing, and Oklahoma seems to be ground zero for the really bad ones, although they can occur anywhere, anytime as any pilot knows. For the first time, three storm chasers were lost tracking a big twister in rural Oklahoma. Storm chasing is a fascinating, frustrating, and potentially very dangerous business as the players attempt to get close to funnels, but not too close, to shoot pictures, measure wind speeds/pressure, and create memorable video for public consumption and awe. The three chasers were, by reputation, highly experienced and cautious. The details of the accident are sobering: The small Chevy Cobalt they were driving was hurled about a half-mile, end over end. Witnesses said it looked as if it had gone through a trash compactor. A nearby Weather Channel SUV was “merely” tossed two football fields, but there were no serious injuries.
You just have to wonder about the sanity of some people charged with developing communities. This article appeared in the Island Packet newspaper in Hilton Head, S.C. (bold print is added):
Bruce Landsberg, President of the AOPA Foundation