# NTSB CEN11CA046: Hughes J/Hughes J Rand-Robinson, N128JH, Pearland, TX, October 29, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 29, 2010, 13:23 local (18:23 UTC) - Place: Pearland, TX - Coordinates: 29.519443, -95.238609 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5194&lon=-95.2386&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Houston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77701 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77701/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77701 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA046 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was an engine oil leak which partially obscured the pilot’s forward vision. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes J/Hughes J RAND ROBINSON KR2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=05628OM), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes J/Hughes J RAND ROBINSON KR2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=05628OM), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng oil sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes J/Hughes J RAND ROBINSON KR2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md?model=05628OM), [All aircraft, 130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: obscuration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes J/Hughes J RAND ROBINSON KR2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035030/cases.md?model=05628OM), [All aircraft, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Hughes J/Hughes J RAND ROBINSON KR2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05628OM), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Emergency descent initiated](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/130); cases with it: [Hughes J/Hughes J RAND ROBINSON KR2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/130/sequence.md?model=05628OM), [All aircraft, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/130/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Hughes J/Hughes J RAND ROBINSON KR2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05628OM), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Hughes J/Hughes J RAND ROBINSON KR2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05628OM), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Hughes J/Hughes J RAND ROBINSON KR2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05628OM), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot/builder was making the first flight of the experimental single engine airplane after having completed several high-speed taxi tests and ground runs of the engine. Shortly after becoming airborne and during the initial climb, the pilot began to notice oil on the windshield. He returned to the airport to land by which time the oil film was significantly reducing his forward visibility and he had difficulty judging his height above the ground. During the landing the airplane touched down hard and bounced. On the second touchdown both main landing gear legs collapsed and penetrated through the top surfaces of the wings. The pilot stated that he was unable to determine the source of the engine oil leak. ## Factual narrative The pilot, who was the builder of the experimental single engine airplane, was making the first flight after having completed several high-speed taxi tests and ground runs of the engine. The pilot stated that shortly after becoming airborne and during the initial climb, he began to notice oil on the windshield. When he returned to the airport for landing the oil was significantly reducing his forward visibility and he had difficulty judging his height above the ground. During the landing the airplane “touched down hard and bounced”. On the second touchdown both main landing gear legs collapsed and penetrated through the top surfaces of the wings. The solo pilot was not injured. Two weeks after the accident the pilot said he still had not been able to determine the source of the engine oil leak. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N128JH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N128JH), registered now, S/N 2810, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hughes J/Hughes J Rand-Robinson (KR2) - Registry model: [Hughes J/Hughes J RAND ROBINSON KR2](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-j-hughes-j-rand-robinson-kr2) (registry code 05628OM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Revmaster 2100](https://openairdocs.org/engine/revmaster-2100) (registry code 52550, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2810 - Airframe hours: 0 - Engines: REVMASTER 2100 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 27, 2010, 0 hours before - Departed: LVJ, Pearland, TX - Destination: LVJ, Pearland, TX - Airport: LVJ, Pearland Regional Airport, runway 32, 4,313 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 20, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 95 total, 1 in this make and model, 42 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: LVJ ## 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 20101029052909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101029052909A), Oct 29, 2010: Hughes J/Hu RAND ROBINS, Rearlan, TX, Substantial damage. The pilot, who was the builder of the experimental single engine airplane, was making the first flight after having completed several high-speed taxi tests and… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 18, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77701. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339678&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.