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N715AK accident description

Colorado map... Colorado list
Crash location 40.437500°N, 104.633334°W
Nearest city Greeley, CO
40.423314°N, 104.709132°W
4.1 miles away
Tail number N715AK
Accident date 27 Feb 2015
Aircraft type Arnold Zodiac Ch 650
Additional details: None

NTSB Factual Report

The pilot had recently purchased the experimental amateur-built airplane. He was flying with a flight instructor to gain flight experience in the airplane. The pilot reported that he had made a normal left hand pattern and approach to the runway. During the flare, he attempted to maneuver the airplane to the right using aileron and right rudder inputs. The pilot said that the rudder would not move and he focused on the rudder problem. The airplane rolled out on the runway in a "sideways motion," the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest nose down on the runway. After exiting the airplane, the pilot and instructor observed an auxiliary electrical plug had lodged behind the right rudder pedal and had jammed it. The pilot indicated that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions. The flight instructor's safety recommendation, in part, stated, "This could have been prevented by stowing all movable items before and during flight to keep them away from the flight controls."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot was unable to maintain directional control during the landing due to the foreign object that lodged behind the rudder.

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