# NTSB CEN10CA288: Moe-Pietenpol Aircamper A, N3472, Early, TX, May 29, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 29, 2010, 17:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Early, TX - Coordinates: 31.789443, -98.953887 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7894&lon=-98.9539&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 76191 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA288 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76191/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76191 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA288 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff site. ## 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: [Moe-Pietenpol AIRCAMPER A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=70401E2), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Moe-Pietenpol AIRCAMPER A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=70401E2), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Moe-Pietenpol AIRCAMPER A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=70401E2), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Moe-Pietenpol AIRCAMPER A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=70401E2), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Moe-Pietenpol AIRCAMPER A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=70401E2), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot ran out of gas and safely landed his open-cockpit experimental airplane in a field. He obtained 4.5 gallons of fuel and noted that the field grass was low-to-mid ankle high and relatively thin, which would lengthen his take-off distance. During the take-off roll, at approximately 40 miles per hour, the left main landing gear wheel struck uneven terrain and sheered it off, which caused the left main landing gear strut to dig into the ground and flip the airplane over. As a result, the vertical fin and the engine mounts were substantially damaged. The gear failed at a flat weld that attached a metal plate to the landing gear through the brake assembly. It could not be determined when the weld had been done. ## Factual narrative The commercial pilot ran out of gas and safely landed his open-cockpit experimental airplane in a field. He obtained 4.5 gallons of fuel and noted that the field grass was low-to-mid ankle high and relatively thin, which would lengthen his take-off distance. During the take-off roll, at approximately 40 miles per hour, the left main landing gear wheel struck uneven terrain and sheered it off, which caused the left main landing gear strut to dig into the ground and flip the airplane over. As a result, the vertical fin and the engine mounts were substantially damaged. The gear failed at a flat weld that attached a metal plate to the landing gear through the brake assembly. It could not be determined when the weld had been done. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3472](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3472-2017-09-07), registration cancelled 2017-09-07, S/N 1, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOE-PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER A - Registry model: [Moe-Pietenpol AIRCAMPER A](https://openairdocs.org/model/moe-pietenpol-aircamper-a) (registry code 70401E2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A-65-8](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-65-8) (registry code 17329, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Engines: CONT MOTOR A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hays James B - Registered owner: Hays James B - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: F23, Ranger, TX - Destination: 10SX, Brownwood, TX - Airport: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 2,364 total, 14 in this make and model ## 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 20100529035499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100529035499A), May 29, 2010: Moe-Pietenp AIRCAMPER A, Early, TX, Substantial damage. On may 29, 2010, at 17:45 CDT, N3427, a moe-pietenpol, serial number 1, home built experimental single engine conventional gear aircraft operated by a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 30, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76191. 357 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 334 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332235&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA INspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332236&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20INspector%27s%20Statement-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. --- 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.