# NTSB ATL06LA052: E Newton Newton RV-6A, N57ME, Mooresville, NC, March 13, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 13, 2006, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Mooresville, NC - Coordinates: 35.613887, -80.741386 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6139&lon=-80.7414&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FSDO-33 Charlotte - NTSB case key (mKey): 63377 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL06LA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63377/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06LA052 ## Probable cause The collapse of the nose landing gear for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a nose over. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot stated that he made a normal approach to runway 36, which is a 2,000-foot smooth grass runway. During the touchdown the airplane skipped slightly and then touched down normally. The pilot stated that during the roll out everything was normal until the nose started to drop. He applied full up elevator but could not arrest the descent of the nose. The airplane slid approximately 40 feet and then nosed over. After he exited the airplane and examined the nose gear he found that the nose gear was bent aft. Further examination revealed that there was a dead rabbit just prior to where the nose gear started making a trench in the grass. The airplane came to a stop in the center of the runway with approximately 900 feet remaining on the runway. The pilot did not report any malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. The nose landing gear was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board materials laboratory for further examination. The wheel was removed, dissembled, and examined. Due to the reported animal impact of the nose landing gear, a swab was taken from the inside wheel fairing. A phenolphthalein presumptive blood test was performed on the swab, and the result was positive for blood. ## Factual narrative On March 13, 2006, at 1045 eastern standard time, an E&M Newton RV-6A, N57ME, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, nosed over during landing roll at Miller Airpark, Mooresville, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airline transport rated pilot reported minor injuries and the airplane received substantial damage. The flight originated from the Miller Airpark, Mooresville, North Carolina, on March 13, 2006, at 1000. The pilot stated that he made a normal approach to runway 36, which is a 2,000-foot smooth grass runway. During the touchdown the airplane skipped slightly and then touched down normally. The pilot stated that during the roll out everything was normal until the nose started to drop. He applied full up elevator but could not arrest the descent of the nose. The airplane slid approximately 40 feet and then nosed over inverted. After he exited the airplane and examined the nose gear he found that the nose gear was bent aft. Further examination revealed that there was a dead rabbit just prior to where the nose gear started making a trench in the grass. The airplane came to a stop in the center of the runway with approximately 900 feet remaining on the runway. The pilot did not report any malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. Examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector revealed the first ground scar was 1,000 feet from the approach end of runway 36. Within the first three feet of the ground scar there was a 15-inch long lifeless rabbit. The airplane came to rest inverted on the canopy facing south, 1,180 feet from the approach end of runway 36. The nose landing gear was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board materials laboratory for further examination. The wheel was removed, dissembled, and no mechanical defects were noted during the examination. Due to the reported animal impact of the nose landing gear, a swab was taken from the inside wheel fairing. A phenolphthalein presumptive blood test was performed on the swab, and the result was positive for blood. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N57ME](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57ME-2007-12-01), registration cancelled 2007-12-01, S/N 25829, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: E Newton Newton RV-6A - Registry model: [Newton E/Newton M NEWTON RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/newton-e-newton-m-newton-rv-6a) (registry code 05611V2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 25829 - Airframe hours: 291 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Steve Allen Vanhoy - Registered owner: Steve A Hanhoy - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2005, 291 hours before - Departed: NC30, Mooresville, NC - Airport: NC30, Miller Air Park, runway 36, 2,060 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 15,500 total, 124 in this make and model, 15,500 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,800 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KRUQ, 10 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20060313004099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060313004099A), Mar 13, 2006: Amtr RV6A, Mooresville, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 13, 2006, at 1100 eastern daylight time, an experimental RV-6A, N57ME, registered to a private owner nosed over while landing at Miller airpark… 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. --- 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.