# Accident 20180211002369A: Hastings Thomas G CIRRUS VK-30, Aqua Dulce, CA, February 11, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 11, 2018, 10:51 local time
- Place: Aqua Dulce, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.4633° N, 118.3036° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4633&lon=-118.3036&mi=10
- Aircraft: N52TH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52TH-2018-05-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hastings Thomas G CIRRUS VK-30 (registry code 05606GW, https://openairdocs.org/model/hastings-thomas-g-cirrus-vk-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-550 series (registry code 17042, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HASTINGS THOMAS G CIRRUS VK-30
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR18FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA088) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180211002369A

## Narrative

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

ON 02/11/2018 10:55 LCL TIME N52TH, A HOME BUILT EXPERIMENTAL VK30 AIRCRAFT, WAS ENROUTE FROM LAS VEGAS, NV TO VAN NUYS, CA WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURED. THERE WERE FOUR SOULS ON BOARD WHEN THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TERRAIN UNDER HIGH TENSION POWER LINES TWO MILES EAST OF AGUA DULCE AIRPORT. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT AROUND 2000 TO 3000 FEET AGL WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER AND WENT INTO A VERTICAL DESCENT, IMPACTING THE TERRAIN. THE WITNESS ALSO HEARD AN INCREASE IN THE ENGINE NOISE DURING THE EVENT.

## 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 WPR18FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA088), Feb 11, 2018: Hastings Thomas G Cirrus VK 30 (N52TH), Agua Dulce, CA, substantial damage, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The driveshaft fracture due to overstress loading and rotational bending as a result of the under-torqued nuts on the elastomeric couplings backing off and the subsequent in-flight separation of the…

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.