# NTSB ATL07CA019: Holmgreen RV-6A, N525RV, Midway, GA, November 18, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 18, 2006, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Midway, GA
- Coordinates: 31.802499, -81.397224
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8025&lon=-81.3972&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: College Park FSDO-11
- NTSB case key (mKey): 64889
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07CA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64889/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07CA019

## Probable cause

An on ground encounter with rough/uneven terrain during the landing roll out resulting in the collapse of the nosewheel and subsequent nose over.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

The pilot made a VFR approach and landing to a rough grass landing area. The nosewheel collided with a rut on the landing roll out and collapsed. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Examination of the nosewheel revealed no evidence of a preexisting crack or failure.

## Factual narrative

On November 18, 2006, at 1645 eastern standard time, an experimental RV-6A airplane, N525RV, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collapsed a nose wheel on landing roll out at a private airstrip in the vicinity of Midway, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The private pilot reported minor injuries and the passenger received serious injuries. The flight originated from Hodges Airpark, Savannah, Georgia, on November 18, 2006, at 1530.

The private pilot stated he made a VFR approach and landing to a private airstrip, and the grass runway was described as rough. The pilot flared the airplane between 60 to 75 mph and the airplane touched down on its main landing gear. The pilot lowered the nose wheel onto the ground, the airplane hit a bump and bounced back into the air. The airplane touched back down on the runway and the nose wheel continued to bounce on the rough ground. The pilot applied brakes and the nose wheel collapsed as it collided with a rut. The airplane went up on its nose and came to rest inverted on the runway. The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the flight controls or engine assembly before the accident.

Examination of the nose wheel revealed no evidence of a preexisting crack or failure.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N525RV (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Holmgreen RV-6A
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 25114
- Airframe hours: 1627
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4N 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Johnny F. Lowe
- Registered owner: William N. Davis
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, June 1, 2006, 11 hours before
- Departed: GA39, Savannah, GA
- Destination: Midway, GA
- Airport: NONE, Steve Berg Field, runway 36, 2,374 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 800 total, 14 in this make and model, 720 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observed at: KSVN, 30 nm away

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.

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