# Accident 20161116023589A: Loofbourrow John W RUTAN DEFIANT, Morristown, NJ, November 16, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 16, 2016, 15:25 local time
- Place: Morristown, NJ
- Airport: Morristown
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.7994° N, 74.4150° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7994&lon=-74.4150&mi=10
- Aircraft: N770JL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N770JL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Loofbourrow John W RUTAN DEFIANT (registry code 05610MU, https://openairdocs.org/model/loofbourrow-john-w-rutan-defiant) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360 series (registry code 41575, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LOOFBOURROW JOHN W RUTAN DEFIANT
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,905 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA054) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161116023589A

## Narrative

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

ON NOVEMBER 11, 2016 AT 2025Z, N770JL, AN AMATUER BUILT RUTAN DEFIANT, LANDED ON RUNWAY 23 AT MORRISTOWN AIRPORT.  UPON LANDING THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT STOPPED ON THE RUNWAY SURFACE.  THIS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE RHINO RUDDER WHICH IS LOCATED NEXT TO THE NOSEWHEEL, A PROP STRIKE ON THE FORWARD ENGINE, AND SKIN DAMAGE TO THE FORWARD COWLING.  THE PILOT, WHO ALSO CONSTRUCTED THE AIRCRAFT, DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE COLLAPSE TO BE WEAR ON THE NOSE LANDING GEAR DOWN LOCK.   THIS WAS VERIFIED BY AN FAA INSPECTOR.

## 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 ERA17LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA054), Nov 16, 2016: Loofbourrow John W Rutan Defiant (N770JL), Morristown, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: A collapse of the nose landing gear due to wear in the landing gear extension system.

## Other reports on N770JL (1)

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

- [Incident 20040621019989I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040621019989I), Jun 21, 2004: Amtr RUTANDEFIANT (N770JL), Lancaster, PA, Minor damage. (-23) Aircraft cleared for straight-in approach to runway 26. Clear, windless, & low humidity weather. The pilot was distracted by some construction work on…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.