# NTSB CEN10LA351: Boeing A75N1 (PT17), N469RH, Indianapolis, IN, June 26, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 26, 2010, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Indianapolis, IN - Coordinates: 39.830833, -86.294441 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8308&lon=-86.2944&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 76460 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA351 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76460/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76460 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA351 ## Probable cause The pilot's inability to maintain directional control during landing due to the airplane not being equipped with a steerable or locking tailwheel as required by the airplane's design. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, as the airplane touched down during landing, it veered off the right side of the runway and nosed over. Inspection of the airplane revealed that it was not equipped with a steerable or locking tailwheel as required by the airplane's design. No other anomalies were found. ## Factual narrative On June 26, 2010, at 1545 eastern daylight time, a Boeing A75N1 (PT17), N469RH, received substantial damage on impact with terrain when the airplane veered off the right side of runway 21 and nosed over during landing at Eagle Creek Airpark (EYE), Indianapolis, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The flight originated from Sheridan Airport (5I4), Sheridan, Indiana, about 1535 and was en route to EYE. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot stated that he had departed from EYE and arrived at 5I4 to attend an air show. The pilot reported that he "greased" the landing at 5I4 and taxied to the ramp where he set the airplane parking brake and ramp personnel placed chocks under the airplane wheels. The pilot was asked twice if he had set the parking brake, to which he responded, "well there is only one parking brake and I set it." After the air show, the pilot and the son of a family friend taxied and made a 180-degree turn on a grass runway before departing 5I4. They then flew for about 10 minutes before landing on runway 21 (4,200 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at EYE. The pilot stated that as soon as the airplane touched down, the airplane veered to the right and that the brakes must have gotten hot. The pilot said that this was the first time that he had ground looped an airplane. The pilot, age 80, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane ratings. He also held a flight instructor certificate with airplane single and multiengine land ratings. On June 5, 1979, the pilot was involved in an accident while piloting N469RH near Indianapolis, Indiana. The accident was investigated under National Transportation Safety Board Identification: CHI79FEX28. According to FAA records, the pilot was involved in two general aviation incidents that occurred on May 26, 2004, and August 13, 2006, in a Boeing A75N1 during landing on runway 3 (4,200 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at EYE. On May 26, 2004, the accident pilot had briefed that he would perform the takeoff and landing to a second pilot aboard the flight, but during the landing approach, he waved to the second pilot to perform the landing. During the landing, the second pilot shouted to the accident pilot to get off the brakes. The airplane flipped over at the midfield point on the right side of the runway 3 at EYE. On August 13, 2006, the accident pilot transferred control of the airplane to a second pilot seated in the front seat of the airplane after landing on runway 3 at EYE. After the second pilot took control of the airplane, the airplane ground looped about midfield and came inverted. The airplane was a 1941 Boeing A75N1 (PT17), serial number 75-2252, that was purchased by the pilot in 1971. The pilot reported that the airplanewas powered by a 300 horsepower, Lycoming R680-9, serial number 5677, engine. The airplane type certificate states that only a 220 horsepower, Continental W-670-6A or -6N engine is to be installed on PT-17 or -17A airplanes. The FAA airworthiness database for the accident airplane shows no record for the installation or an approval for the installation of a Lycoming R680-9 engine. Review of the aircraft logbooks by the FAA revealed no entry for the installation of wheel brakes, which were relatively new. The pilot stated to the FAA that the brakes were installed 2 or 3 years ago by an airframe and powerplant mechanic, but according to FAA records that mechanic had not renewed his inspection authorization since March 1999. The airframe logbook had a signed maintenance entry for an annual inspection dated August 13, 2008, and there was no maintenance logbook entry for a subsequent airframe inspection. There were annual inspection entries dated September 1, 2009, in the engine and propeller logbooks. Postaccident examination of runway 21 revealed that a 75-yard long skid mark consistent with the left main landing gear tire skid. The skid mark curved off the east side of the runway and into the turf. The skid mark continued through the turf for about 24 yards to where the airplane was resting in a nosed-over attitude. One propeller blade was embedded about 10 inches into the turf. The front and rear lower wing spars were broken and the wing tip sustained damage. The rear wing strut connecting the upper and lower wings was broken about 2 feet from its mounting bracket on the lower wing. The left main landing gear tire was flat and displaced from the wheel rim. The only marks on the right main landing gear tire were scuff marks that were perpendicular to direction of wheel rotation. There were no marks on the runway consistent with the right main landing wheel. The left main landing gear tire was placed back onto it's rim and filled with air so that the airplane could be towed to the pilot's hangar. The airplane was then towed to the hangar, which was about 1/2 mile from the accident site, without any restriction to the rotation of the main landing gear wheels. When the pilot was asked by the FAA if the airplane had a tailwheel lock, the pilot stated that it does not and the tailwheel only swings 15 degrees. Inspection of the airplane revealed that the tailwheel would swing 260 degrees and was not equipped with a locking tailwheel nor a steerable tailwheel as required by the airplane's design. The airplane did not have an operational parking brake system, and the only components of the system that were installed were the control cables as required by the airplane's design. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N469RH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N469RH), registered now, S/N 75-2252, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING A75N1 (PT17) - Registry model: [Boeing A75N1(PT17)](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1-pt17) (registry code 1380134) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming R680](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-r680) (registry code 41540, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-2252 - Engines: Lycoming R680-9 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 5I4, Sheridan, IN - Destination: EYE, Indianapolis, IN - Airport: EYE, Eagle Creek Airpark, runway 21, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; seat: front; flight hours: 5,411 total, 1,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: EYE ## 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 20100626038159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100626038159A), Jun 26, 2010: Boeing A75N1(PT17), Indianapolis, IN, Substantial damage. On June 26, 2010 while landing at Eagle Creek Airport in Indianapolis, Indiana aircraft N469RH, a Boeing (PT-17), serial number 75-2252 departed the east side… ## Other investigations on N469RH (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 CHI79FEX28](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FEX28), Jun 5, 1979: Boeing A75N1 (N469RH), Indianapolis, IN, substantial damage ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76460. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 480 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350064&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Meteorology - EYE AWOS (item 2, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347651&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Meteorology%20-%20EYE%20AWOS-Master.PDF - Aircraft Registry (item 3, .PDF, 235 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350077&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Registry-Redacted.PDF - Aircraft Type Certificate Data Sheet (item 4, .PDF, 622 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347652&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Type%20Certificate%20Data%20Sheet-Master.PDF - FAA Aircraft Airworthiness Records (item 5, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347662&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Aircraft%20Airworthiness%20Records-Redacted.PDF - CHI79FEX28 (item 6, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347677&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CHI79FEX28-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.