# Accident 20100801044019A: Holmgreen J RV8A, Crlsbad, CA, August 1, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 1, 2010, 16:20 local time
- Place: Crlsbad, CA
- Airport: Mcclellan-Palomar
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.1236° N, 117.2747° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1236&lon=-117.2747&mi=10
- Aircraft: N525JH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N525JH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Holmgreen John B RV8A (registry code 05619C9, https://openairdocs.org/model/holmgreen-john-b-rv8a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HOLMGREEN J RV8A
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 350 total, 100 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10CA428](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA428) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100801044019A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON 8-1-2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 1630 HOURS LOCAL TIME, DICKSON CLARK TOOK OFF FROM RUNWAY 24 AT PALOMAR AIRPORT IN CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA. CLARK, A PRIVATE PILOT, WAS FLYING AN EXPERIMENTAL VANS RV-8A (TRICYCLE GEAR) TAIL NUMBER N525JH.MOMENTS AFTER CLARK ACCELERATED ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL, HE NOTICED THAT THE CANOPY WAS NOT LATCHED. CLARK THEN LEFT THE THROTTLE AT FULL POWER, AND TRIED TO USE HIS LEFT HAND TO TRY AND SLIDE THE CANOPY FORWARD. AS CLARK WORKED THE CANOPY PROBLEM, HE WAS ALREADY ROTATED AND BEGINNING A CLIMB. CLARK CONTINUED PUSHING THE CANOPY FORWARD WITH HIS LEFT HAND AND WAS FLYING THE PLANE WITH HIS RIGHT HAND ON THE CONTROL STICK.  AS CLARK GAVE THE CANOPY A PUSH WITH HIS LEFT HAND IT CREATED A SORT OF "KNEE-JERK" REACTION WHERE HIS RIGHT HAND (WHICH IS ON THE CONTROL STICK) ALSO WENT FORWARD. THIS FORWARD STICK MOVEMENT CREATED A SUDDEN PITCHING MOMENT DOWN, AND THE AIRCRAFT LEFT APPROXIMATELY 20' FEET AGL, AND WENT BACK TO THE RUNWAY STRIKING THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THEREAFTER, THE AIRCRAFT SLID DOWN THE END OF RUNWAY 24, AND CLARK CONTINUED TO APPLY BRAKING UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP.  CLARK WAS NOT INJURED AND WAS MET AT THE AIRCRAFT BY THE FIRE CREW. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOWED OFF THE RUNWAY AND TAKEN TO LEADING EDGE AVIATION ON THE FIELD. LATER IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE MECHANICS THAT THERE WAS FIREWALL DAMAGE AND THE FIREWALL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THIS DAMAGE WAS CREATED BY THE ENGINE AND ENGINE MOUNT BEING SLAMMED INTO THE RUNWAY THEREBY PUSHING EVERYTHING AFT AND CREATING THE FIREWALL DAMAGE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR10CA428](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA428), Aug 1, 2010: Holmgreen John B RV8A (N525JH), Carlsbad, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate pretakeoff checks and failure to maintain control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s diverted attention due to the open canopy.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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