20040523008169A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Amtr RV-8 · Boulder City, NV · May 23, 2004

Date: May 23, 2004 · 10:45 local
Place: Boulder City, NV
Airport: Boulder City Municipal Airport
Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N767GS
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX04CA231
Reported as: Amtr RV8
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 17,265 total310 in this make and model87 in the last 90 days

N767GSRegistered now · Smith Glenn L RV-8S/N 81074 · Built 2002 Airframe modelSmith Glenn L RV-8 Engine modelLycoming IO-360-A1B6DReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On may 23, 2004, at approximately 11:50 psd, Mr. Smith, the pilot in command of N767GS was returning to Boulder City airport (61B). He monitored ASOS which recommended runway 9 and winds 120 degrees at 12 knots with gusts. Mr. Smith over flew the airport and confirmed the wind conditions with the airport windsocks. On landing and at approximately 40 miles per hour with the tail wheel on the ground, Mr. Smith experienced a wind gust that appeared to be a whirlwind that made the aircraft veer to the right. The reported wind was 30 degrees from the right side. He was not expecting the aircraft to veer right. Mr. Smith made all the corrections he could to keep the aircraft on the runway. The aircraft veered off the runway and the right wing and landing gear contacted a runway distance remaining sign causing major structural damage. There were no injuries to the two occupants.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON MAY 23, 2004, AT APPROXIMATELY 11:50 PSD, MR. SMITH, THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF N767GS WAS RETURNING TO BOULDER CITY AIRPORT (61B). HE MONITORED ASOS WHICH RECOMMENDED RUNWAY 9 AND WINDS 120 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS WITH GUSTS. MR. SMITH OVER FLEW THE AIRPORT AND CONFIRMED THE WIND CONDITIONS WITH THE AIRPORT WINDSOCKS. ON LANDING AND AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR WITH THE TAIL WHEEL ON THE GROUND, MR. SMITH EXPERIENCED A WIND GUST THAT APPEARED TO BE A WHIRLWIND THAT MADE THE AIRCRAFT VEER TO THE RIGHT. THE REPORTED WIND WAS 30 DEGREES FROM THE RIGHT SIDE. HE WAS NOT EXPECTING THE AIRCRAFT TO VEER RIGHT. MR. SMITH MADE ALL THE CORRECTIONS HE COULD TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND THE RIGHT WING AND LANDING GEAR CONTACTED A RUNWAY DISTANCE REMAINING SIGN CAUSING MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE TWO OCCUPANTS.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX04CA231Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBoulder City, NVthe pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was a sudden wind shift.May 23, 2004 · Substantial damage