# Accident 20240504003799A: Michael Milburn VANS RV8, Cascade, MT, May 4, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 4, 2024, 12:15 local time
- Place: Cascade, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.2115° N, 111.7277° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2115&lon=-111.7277&mi=10
- Aircraft: N740MT, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N740MT) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Michael Milburn VANS RV8 (registry code 05639TK, https://openairdocs.org/model/michael-milburn-vans-rv8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming YO-360-A1A (registry code 41586, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-yo-360-a1a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MICHAEL MILBURN VANS RV8
- Reported engine: LYCOMING YO-360-A1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 7,325 total, 106 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA140) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240504003799A

## Narrative

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

IAW: 8900.1VOL 7 CH 1 SEC 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEVIATION:

ON MAY 4, 2024, THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ OF A VANS RV-8, REGISTRATION ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WAS PRACTICING SHORT FIELD LANDINGS AT AN UNAPPROVED GRASS STRIP ON THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^PROPERTY, WHERE THE AIRPLANE WAS HANGARD.  WHILE PRACTICING THE LANDING PROCEDURE, THE AIRCRAFT DIPPED ON ITS NOSE, RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPING ON ITS BACK.  THE PILOT WAS UNHURT BUT THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

CAUSUAL AND/OR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:

THE LANDING WAS UNEVENTFUL AND AS THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DECELERATE, THE PILOT RELAXED THE BACK PRESSURE ON THE CONTROLS AND APPLIED WHAT WAS BELIEVED TO BE NORMAL BRAKING. IN DOING SO, POTENTIALLY THE LOSS OF ELEVATOR CONTROL EFFECTIVENESS, THE ELEVATOR COULD NOT COUNTER THE TAIL LIFTING. THIS CAUSED THE NOSE TO DIP, STRIKING THE PROP WITH THE AIRPLANE CONTINUING TO ROLL ON TO ITS BACK.  THE PILOT WAS ACCUSTOMED TO HAVING ADDITIONAL WEIGHT IN THE BACK AS BALLAST IF A PASSENGER WAS NOT ON BOARD, BUT THIS FLIGHT THERE WAS NO PASSENGER OR ADDED BALLAST.  AS IN PAST FLIGHTS, THIS ADDITIONAL WEIGHT IN THE BACK, HELP TO KEEP THE TAIL DOWN ON LANDING ROLL.

NO ATC ACTIONS CONTRIBUTORY TO THE EVENT.

N/A

NO RCOMMENDATIONS FOR SYSTEMIC CORRECTIVE ACTION.

N/A

ACTION TAKE TO CORRECT PRBOLEMAND PRVENT REOCCURANCE:

COMPLIANCE ACTION- COUSELING

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION’S COMPLIANCE PHILOSOPHY, YOU HAVE BEEN COUNSELED ON SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BASIC TRANSITION TO TAILWHEEL STEERING.  REF:  FAA-H-8083-3C, CH14.  YOUR WILLINGNESS TO OWN THE SITUATION, SHARE YOUR STORY WITH OTHERS, AND DEVELOP PROCESSES WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE CRITICAL POINTS OF AERODYNAMICS DURING THE TRANSITION TO TAIL WHEEL STEERING IS COMMENDABLE. THIS DISPLAYS YOUR COMMITMENT TO AVIATION SAFETY.

SAS RECORD #:

T-NM05-FY24-0328

RCA:

B3

## 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 WPR24LA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA140), May 4, 2024: Michael Milburn Vans RV8 (N740MT), Cascade, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during landing roll.

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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