# NTSB CEN11CA143: Rardin William I Kitfox III, N876KF, Carlisle, AR, January 2, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 2, 2011, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Carlisle, AR - Coordinates: 34.804721, -91.707221 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8047&lon=-91.7072&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 26, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 78116 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78116/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78116 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA143 ## Probable cause Failure of the left main landing gear strut due to a pre-existing crack in the weld joint. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Rardin William I KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=05618EY), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Rardin William I KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05618EY), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Rardin William I KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05618EY), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Rardin William I KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05618EY), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing his single-engine experimental airplane in calm wind conditions, when the left main gear collapsed upon touchdown. The airplane veered to the right and the pilot attempted to keep the airplane on the runway by applying engine power and right aileron; however, the airplane exited the runway and spun, which resulted in structural damage to the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the left main landing gear strut revealed that the strut failed due to a pre-existing crack in the weld joint. The crack would not have been readily visible to the pilot during a pre-flight inspection due to the construction of the strut. The bracing around the strut exhibited signs of distress with twisted and shiny fracture surfaces. No other anomalies were found with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The private pilot was landing his single-engine experimental airplane in calm wind conditions, when the left main gear collapsed upon touchdown. The airplane veered to the right and the pilot attempted to keep the airplane on the runway by applying engine power and right aileron; however, the airplane went off the runway and spun, which resulted in structural damage to the fuselage. Examination of the left main landing gear strut revealed that the strut failed due to a pre-existing crack in the weld joint. The crack would not have been readily visible to the pilot during a pre-flight inspection due to the construction of the strut. The bracing around the strut exhibited signs of distress with twisted and shiny fracture surfaces. No other anomalies were found with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N876KF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N876KF), registered now, S/N 876, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RARDIN WILLIAM I KITFOX III - Registry model: [Rardin William I KITFOX III](https://openairdocs.org/model/rardin-william-i-kitfox-iii) (registry code 05618EY) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 876 - Engines: BOMBARDIER ROTAX (ALL) reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John Roman - Registered owner: John Roman - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: ORK, N. Little Rock, AR - Destination: 4M3, Carlisle, AR - Airport: 4M3, Carlisle Municipal, runway 18 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 909 total, 59 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 20110102000129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110102000129A), Jan 2, 2011: Rardin Will KITFOX III, Carlisle, AR, Substantial damage. On January 2, 2011, at 1300 CST, a Kitfox, N876KF, registered to [privacy data omitted], had the left gear collapse on landing at Carlisle Airport, Carlisle,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 19, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78116. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 634 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341756&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341757&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 822 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341758&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-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.