# NTSB CEN10LA414: Wogenstahl Wallace L Wogenstahl 281 MR, N5281R, Mount Cory, OH, July 14, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 14, 2010, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Mount Cory, OH
- Coordinates: 40.936668, -83.822219 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9367&lon=-83.8222&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-COL-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76694
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA414
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76694/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76694
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA414

## Probable cause

The improper installation of the rivets at the aft fuselage bulkhead which resulted in the pilot not having full elevator control on landing.

## Findings

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

- [Fuselage: fuselage attach fittings sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035340): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Wogenstahl Wallace L WOGENSTAHL 281 MR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035340/cases.md?model=056266O), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035340/cases.md)
- [Fuselage: fuselage attach fittings sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035340): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Wogenstahl Wallace L WOGENSTAHL 281 MR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035340/cases.md?model=056266O), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035340/cases.md)
- [Maintenance: installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035): Personnel issues › Task performance · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Wogenstahl Wallace L WOGENSTAHL 281 MR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md?model=056266O), [All aircraft, 371 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Wogenstahl Wallace L WOGENSTAHL 281 MR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=056266O), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) (defining event); cases with it: [Wogenstahl Wallace L WOGENSTAHL 281 MR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md?model=056266O), [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333); cases with it: [Wogenstahl Wallace L WOGENSTAHL 281 MR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=056266O), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Wogenstahl Wallace L WOGENSTAHL 281 MR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056266O), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Wogenstahl Wallace L WOGENSTAHL 281 MR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=056266O), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Wogenstahl Wallace L WOGENSTAHL 281 MR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056266O), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Wogenstahl Wallace L WOGENSTAHL 281 MR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056266O), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he heard what sounded like an explosion in the rear of the airplane during cruise flight at 3,000 feet. He stated that the airplane then began to vibrate and it sounded as if something was banging on the airplane. The pilot reported he chose a street on which to make a precautionary landing and that the elevator was ineffective during the landing flare. The airplane touched down hard, bounced, and veered off the side of the road where it contacted two concrete posts prior to nosing over. A post accident inspection revealed that 26 of the Avex rivets on the aft bulkhead had failed/worked out allowing the several sections of the aft fuselage skin to pop up. The inspection also revealed that “smoking” was visible around some of the rivet holes indicating that the rivets were loose. When the pilot purchased the unfinished airplane, the riveting had already been accomplished. The kit manufacturer calls for Avex rivets to be used. The partial separation of the skin from the bulkhead allowed the empennage to flex which most could have resulted in the lack of elevator control during the landing.

## Factual narrative

On July 14, 2010, at 1230 eastern daylight time, an amateur built experimental Wogenstahl 281 MR, N5281R, collided with concrete posts and nosed over during an off airport precautionary landing following an in-flight structural failure. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight departed from Middletown, Ohio, at 1030 with an intended destination of Bowling Green, Ohio. The pilot reported that he heard what sounded like an explosion in the rear of the airplane during cruise flight at 3,000 feet. He stated the airplane then began to vibrate and it sounded as if something was banging on the airplane. The pilot reported he chose a street on which to make a precautionary landing and that the elevator was ineffective during the landing flare. The airplane touched down hard, bounced, and veered off the side of the road where it contacted two concrete posts prior to nosing over. The pilot reported that the riveting had already been accomplished when he purchased the unfinished airplane from a previous owner. The post accident inspection by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector and the pilot revealed that 26 of the Avex rivets on the aft bulkhead had failed/worked out allowing the several sections of the aft fuselage skin to pop up. The inspection also revealed that “smoking” was visible around some of the rivet holes indicating that the rivets were loose. The kit manufacturer does call for Avex rivets to be used. The inspector stated that the partial separation of the skin from the bulkhead allowed the empennage to flex which would have resulted in the lack of elevator control during the landing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5281R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5281R-2010-09-08), registration cancelled 2010-09-08, S/N 281MR, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WOGENSTAHL WALLACE L WOGENSTAHL 281 MR
- Registry model: [Wogenstahl Wallace L WOGENSTAHL 281 MR](https://openairdocs.org/model/wogenstahl-wallace-l-wogenstahl-281-mr) (registry code 056266O) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-B2C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-b2c) (registry code 42139, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 281MR
- Airframe hours: 66
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Wogenstahl Wallace L
- Registered owner: Wogenstahl Wallace L
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 26, 2010, 4 hours before
- Departed: MWO, Middletown, OH
- Destination: 1G0, Bowling Green, OH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 9, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 110 in this make and model, 7,500 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: FDY, 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 20100714038539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100714038539A), Jul 14, 2010: Wogenstahl WOGENSTAHL, Mt.Cory, OH, Substantial damage. On July 14,2010 aircraft,N5281R ,experimental murphy rebel enroute from mwo to 1GO cruising at 3000 ft. the pilot experienced a loud bang inside of the…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 19, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76694. 1.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 967 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334585&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 01. Aft Fuselage and Rear Bulkhead Area. (item 2, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334664&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2001.%20%20Aft%20Fuselage%20and%20Rear%20Bulkhead%20Area.-Master.PDF
- Photo 02. Aft Bulkhead With Missing Rivets. (item 3, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334665&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2002.%20Aft%20Bulkhead%20With%20Missing%20Rivets.-Master.PDF
- Photo 03. Aft Bulkhead With Missing Rivets. (item 4, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334666&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2003.%20Aft%20Bulkhead%20With%20Missing%20Rivets.-Master.PDF
- Photo 04. Inside of Aft Fuselage Area. (item 5, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334667&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2004.%20Inside%20of%20Aft%20Fuselage%20Area.-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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