Harvey Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Snohomish, Washington 98296
Thursday, October 3, 2013 15:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during a test flight the airplane encountered moderate turbulence so he decided to return to the airport for landing. While turning to the crosswind leg in the pattern, the airplane suddenly banked sharply and descended uncontrollably. The pilot was able to regain control about 500 feet above ground level, and managed to turn the airplane to the downwind leg, but he continued to have difficulty maintaining control. The pilot then decided to make an emergency off airport landing to a field. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with obstructions and nosed over. The wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. After the accident, the pilot reported that the loss of aircraft control was due to a jammed rudder for undetermined reasons.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A jammed rudder control while maneuvering in the pattern for reasons that could not be determined. No follow-up examination was conducted due to a lapse in agency funding and subsequent government shutdown.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/3/2013
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Snohomish
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98296
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 475360N
Event Location Longitude 1220560W
Event Location Airport Harvey Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID S43
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 12
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1200 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID PAE
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3600
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 5
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32064
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 15 2013 2:48PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N143TZ
NTSB Number WPR14CA004
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name VENABLES ZENITH
Aircraft Model CH701
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 7-5884
Certified Max Gross Weight 1150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 1
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Sep 12 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 3
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name VENABLES JOHN R
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City KENMORE
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 980284763
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name VENABLES JOHN R
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City KENMORE
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 980284763
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code S43
Departure City Snohomish
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1445
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code S43
Destination City Snohomish
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 15 2013 2:48PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --