# Accident 20220816014639A: Vans Aircraft Inc RV-12, Westfield, MA, August 16, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 16, 2022, 08:00 local time
- Place: Westfield, MA
- Airport: Barnes Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.1594° N, 72.7152° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1594&lon=-72.7152&mi=10
- Aircraft: N33EV, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N33EV) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Vans RV-12 (registry code 0690009, https://openairdocs.org/model/vans-rv-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912ULS series (registry code 55572, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VANS AIRCRAFT INC RV-12
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,022 total, 397 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA22LA374](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA374) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220816014639A

## Narrative

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

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^A VAN?S RV-12 HOMEBUILT EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT BEING OPERATED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^A LICENSED PILOT STRUCK THE A 20-2 RUNWAY HOLD SHORT SIGN AT BARNES MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (BAF) WESTFIELD, MA. THE PILOT REQUESTED TAXI INSTRUCTIONS FOR TAKEOFF, INSTRUCTIONS WERE ISSUED FOR A RUNWAY 2 TAXIWAY A INTERSECTION DEPARTURE. PILOT TAXIED AS INSTRUCTED. A PRE TAKEOFF ENGINE RUN WAS CONDUCTED. WHEN ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ APPLIED FULL POWER HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND STRUCK THE HOLD SHORT SIGN. AFTER STRIKING THE HOLD SHORT SIGN THE PILOT NOTIFIED THE TOWER HE WAS HEADING BACK TO HIS HANGAR. WITHOUT WAITING FOR CONTROL TOWER INSTRUCTIONS THE PILOT TAXIED BACK TO THE HANGER. AIRPORT OPERATIONS INSPECTED AND CONFIRMED DAMAGE TO THE HOLD SHORT SIGN. AIRPORT OPERATIONS STATED THAT DURING THE AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT ENGINE RUN THE PILOT LOST CONTROL VEERED OFF THE TAXIWAY AND COLLIDED WITH THE HOLD SHORT SIGN IMPACTING THE SIGN WITH THE RIGHT WING. AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTORS FROM THE BRADLEY FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE (EA-63) INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT AND DETERMINED THE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT TO BE SUBSTANTIAL TO INCLUDE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING SPAR.

## 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 ERA22LA374](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA374), Aug 16, 2022: Vans RV-12 (N33EV), Westfield, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control while taxiing for takeoff.

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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