# NTSB CEN11CA423: Hendricks George David JR RV8, N678VR, Angel Fire, NM, June 24, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 24, 2011, 10:54 local (16:54 UTC) - Place: Angel Fire, NM - Coordinates: 36.419723, -105.287223 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4197&lon=-105.2872&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: FAA Albuquerque FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80905 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA423 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80905/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80905 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA423 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during landing. ## 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: [Hendricks George David JR RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056249W), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Hendricks George David JR RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=056249W), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: [Hendricks George David JR RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056249W), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Hendricks George David JR RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056249W), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hendricks George David JR RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056249W), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during landing the airplane encountered gusty wind and the tailwheel touched down hard. The airplane veered to the right and the pilot applied left rudder, but the airplane continued off the right side of the runway, struck terrain, and came to rest upright. The airplane's fuselage sustained substantial damage. The wind at the airport around the time of the accident was an 80 degree right crosswind at 17 knots gusting to 25 knots. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical anomalies with the airplane and said the accident could have been prevented if he had maintained crosswind aileron control throughout the landing. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that after the main gear touched down, the airplane encountered a gust of wind which raised the right wing and resulted in a hard touchdown of the tail wheel. The airplane veered to the right and the pilot applied left rudder, but the airplane continued off the right side of the runway, struck terrain, and came to rest upright. The airplane's fuselage was substantially damaged during the accident. The wind at the airport around the time of the accident was an 80 degree right crosswind at 17 knots gusting to 25 knots. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical anomalies with the airplane and recommended more emphasis on maintaining crosswind aileron control throughout the landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N678VR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N678VR), registered now, S/N 82700, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HENDRICKS GEORGE DAVID JR RV8 - Registry model: [Hendricks George David JR RV8](https://openairdocs.org/model/hendricks-george-david-jr-rv8) (registry code 056249W) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A4A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a4a) (registry code 42270, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 82700 - Airframe hours: 210 - Engines: ECi OX-360-A4B9N 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 6, 2010, 91 hours before - Departed: SAF, Santa Fe, NM - Destination: AXX, Angel Fire, NM - Airport: AXX, Angel Fire Airport, runway 17, 8,900 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 28, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 13,100 total, 34 in this make and model, 11,039 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 17 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KAXX ## 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 20110624011419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110624011419A), Jun 24, 2011: Hendricks George David Jr RV8, Angel Fire, NM, Substantial damage. On June 24, 2011 at 1102 MDT, N678VR, an RV-8 amateur built aircraft, departed the right side of runway 17 at the Angel Fire, NM airport while landing in a… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 12, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80905. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350797&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.