# Accident 20120517008169A: Rotherwick Hr GLASAIR III, Darby, MT, May 17, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 17, 2012, 16:25 local time
- Place: Darby, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.9883° N, 114.1672° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9883&lon=-114.1672&mi=10
- Aircraft: N471B, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N471B-2018-01-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Rotherwick HR GLASAIR III (registry code 056291J, https://openairdocs.org/model/rotherwick-hr-glasair-iii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROTHERWICK HR GLASAIR III
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 10,896 total, 3 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12CA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA213) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120517008169A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATES THE WEATHER WAS CHANGING RAPIDLY, ATTEMPTED TO DIVERT TO KBZN BUT UNABLE, TURNED TO DIVERT TO 6S5 (HAMILTON, MT) BUT VALLEY WAS BLOCKED BY A THUNDERSTORM.  STATED FUEL CONSUMPTION, ACCORDING TO GAGES, WAS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER THAN PERFORMANCE PLANNING. MADE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON MT. 473, AKA WEST FORK ROAD SOUTH OF DARBY,MT WHEN FUEL GAGES INDICATED ZERO.  PILOT STATED HE STAYED TO THE RIGHT AS TREES LINED THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND AN APPARENT GUST PUSHED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT. RIGHT MAIN WENT OFF THE SIDE OF PAVEMENT INTO DIRT WHICH DRAGGED THE AIRCRAFT INTO THE DRAINAGE DITCH. AIRCRAFT RIGHT WING CONTACTED FENCING, PROPELLER SPINNER AND FRONT COWLING STRUCK A TREE ADJACENT TO THE FENCE, SPUN THE AIRCRAFT CLOCKWISE, STRUCK A CONCRETE WATER DRAIN, STOPPED JUST PAST THE CONCRETE DRAIN TURNED APPROXIMATELY 160 DEGREES FROM LANDING DIRECTION. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS, UNDERCARRIAGE, PROP.

## 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 WPR12CA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA213), May 17, 2012: Rotherwick HR Glasair III (N471B), Darby, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control during an emergency landing on a paved highway.

## Other reports on N471B (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20101021048439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101021048439A), Oct 21, 2010: Rotherwick GLASAIR III (N471B), Colville, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot landed runway 19. Touched down near midfield. Pilot was unable to stop aircraft prior to reaching the end of the runway. Aircraft went off the south end…

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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