# NTSB CEN09CA545: Dekkinga Vans RV-7A, N811AK, Jenison, MI, August 27, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 26, 2009, 20:20 local (Aug 27, 2009, 00:20 UTC)
- Place: Jenison, MI
- Coordinates: 42.935832, -85.805 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9358&lon=-85.8050&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Grand Rapids FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74605
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA545
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74605/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74605
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA545

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dekkinga Jack A VANS RV7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05624LO), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dekkinga Jack A VANS RV7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05624LO), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Dekkinga Jack A VANS RV7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05624LO), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Dekkinga Jack A VANS RV7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05624LO), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Dekkinga Jack A VANS RV7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05624LO), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Dekkinga Jack A VANS RV7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05624LO), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he executed a simulated engine out approach abeam the numbers at the end of the runway. He established a 500-foot-per-minute descent on the base leg to final. He angled the airplane toward the touchdown zone with the left wing slightly low. He reported that when the airplane was 30 feet above ground level he applied power and the nose pitched up 20–30 degrees. The left wing scraped the pavement, the airplane veered off the runway, and the airplane nosed over.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he executed a simulated engine out approach abeam the numbers at the end of the runway. He established a 500 foot per minute descent on the base leg to final. He angled the airplane toward the touchdown zone with the left wing slightly low. He reported that when the airplane was at 30 feet above ground level, he applied power and the nose pitched up 20 – 30 degrees. The left wing scraped the pavement, the airplane veered off the runway, and the airplane nosed over.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N811AK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N811AK), registered now, S/N 70769 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DEKKINGA VANS RV-7A
- Registry model: [Dekkinga Jack A VANS RV7A](https://openairdocs.org/model/dekkinga-jack-a-vans-rv7a) (registry code 05624LO) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 70769
- Engines: Aerosport Power O-380 A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jack A. Dekkinga
- Registered owner: Jack A. Dekkinga
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, March 13, 2009
- Departed: 08C, Jenison, MI
- Destination: 08C, Jenison, MI
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: 08C, Jenison Riverview, runway 32

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 1,256 total, 117 in this make and model, 29 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20090826051069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090826051069A), Aug 26, 2009: Dekkinga Ja VANS RV7A, Jenison, MI, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that he was practicing an engine out landing on runway no. 32 at Riverview Airport in Jenison, MI. On downwind he reduced throttle to idle and…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 8, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74605. 620 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 620 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319563&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF

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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