# Accident 20200125002319A: Jim Merwin KITFOX S7 SUPER SPOR, Goodyear, AZ, January 25, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 25, 2020, 09:00 local time
- Place: Goodyear, AZ
- Airport: Goodyear
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.4233° N, 112.3753° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4233&lon=-112.3753&mi=10
- Aircraft: N399A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N399A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Jim Merwin KITFOX S7 SUPER SPOR (registry code 05638CL, https://openairdocs.org/model/jim-merwin-kitfox-s7-super-spor) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912ULS series (registry code 55572, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JIM MERWIN KITFOX S7 SUPER SPOR
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912ULS SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR20CA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA080) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200125002319A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED AS EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR-BUILT DURING PHASE 1 FLIGHT TESTING TO DETERMINE TAKEOFF AND LANDING CHARACTERISTICS WITH THE OWNER MONITORING AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS AND ASSISTING IN THE TESTING.  WHEN MAKING THE EIGHTH LANDING THE APPROACH WAS SLIGHTLY HIGH AND ABOUT 5 KNOTS FAST AT ABOUT 80 MPH IAS. THE NORMAL APPROACH SPEED WITH THIS AIRCRAFT RANGES FROM 65 TO 75 MPH DEPENDING ON CONFIGURATION.  DURING APPROACH WITH FULL FLAPS THE AIRCRAFT WAS PUT INTO A SLIP TO STEEPEN THE DECENT ANGLE WITHOUT INCREASING AIRSPEED, THEN EXITED THE SLIP AND BEGAN TO FLARE THE AIRCRAFT; LANDING PITCH ATTITUDE WAS ACHIEVED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS HELD IN THE LANDING PITCH ATTITUDE AS AIRSPEED DECAYED TOWARD VSO.  AT APPROXIMATELY VSO THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON OR NEAR THE CENTER LINE WITH NO DRIFT OR YAW. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN ?ROLL OUT.?  AFTER A SECOND OR TWO, THE PILOT FELT THE RUDDER PEDALS JERK, THE NOSE BEGAN TO YAW LEFT RAPIDLY, AND IT DID NOT RESPOND TO APPLICATION OF RIGHT RUDDER.  THE AIRCRAFT LEFT THE RUNWAY AND STOPPED FACING AND ALMOST PERPENDICULAR TO THE RUNWAY AFTER 270 DEGREES OF ROTATION.

THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR WHEEL FAILED IN THE CENTER. THE AXLE AND AXLE BEARING WAS PULLED FROM THE WHEEL WHEN THE WHEEL FAILED. THE TAIL WHEEL WAS TORN FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE AND THE TAIL WHEEL SPRING ATTACHMENT BOLT WAS BENT OVER OPPOSITE THE DIRECTION OF THE YAW. THE BOLT THREADS CONTAINED THREAD MATERIAL FOR THE NUT, WHICH WAS NOT FOUND.  THE TAIL WHEEL SPRING RETAINING PLATE (SHACKLE) WAS FOUND NEAR THE AIRCRAFT WITH ONE BOLT MISSING AND ONE BOLT SHEARED.  ONE SPRING WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE TAILWHEEL STEERING HORN AND ITS SPRING ENDS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE OPEN THAT THE SPRING THAT REMAINED ON THE HORN.  THE AIRCRAFT BUILDER REPORTED THAT THE TAIL WHEEL STEERING SPRING HAD FALLEN OFF TWICE DURING TAXI TESTING.

## 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 WPR20CA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA080), Jan 25, 2020: Merwin Kitfox (N399A), Goodyear, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The tail wheel mechanism detachment for reasons that could not be determined due to the lack of available evidence which resulted in the loss of directional control on landing.

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.