# NTSB CEN11CA667: Tompkins Tandem Rocket, N29RT, Lemars, IA, September 25, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 24, 2011, 19:00 local (Sep 25, 2011, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Lemars, IA - Coordinates: 42.777778, -96.193611 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7778&lon=-96.1936&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81901 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA667 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81901/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81901 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA667 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Tompkins Robert Eugene TANDEM ROCKET, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05614VC), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Tompkins Robert Eugene TANDEM ROCKET, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05614VC), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Tompkins Robert Eugene TANDEM ROCKET, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05614VC), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that as the airplane was climbing he started a turn and experienced slow aileron response. He stated that he encountered a gust of wind that lowered the left wing. The pilot reduced engine power and the ailerons were still not responsive. He then added engine power and attempted to level the airplane. The pilot was unable to recover the airplane from an unrecognized stall and flew the airplane into the ground where its fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the flight. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that as the airplane was climbing he started a turn and experienced slow aileron response. He stated that he encountered a gust of wind that lowered the left wing. He reduced engine power and the ailerons were still not responsive. He added engine power and attempted to level the airplane. The pilot said that he was unable to get the airplane out of an unrecognized stall and flew the airplane into the ground where it's fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the flight. The pilot reported that his last flight review was conducted in February 2006. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29RT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N29RT-2015-05-19), registration cancelled 2015-05-19, S/N TR001, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TOMPKINS TANDEM ROCKET - Registry model: [Tompkins Robert Eugene TANDEM ROCKET](https://openairdocs.org/model/tompkins-robert-eugene-tandem-rocket) (registry code 05614VC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: TR001 - Airframe hours: 29.9 - Engines: HKS UNKNOWN ENG 60 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Tompkins Robert Eugene - Registered owner: Tompkins Robert Eugene - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 25, 2011 - Departed: LRJ, Lemars, IA - Destination: LRJ, Lemars, IA - Airport: LRJ, Le Mars Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 17, 2006; seat: single; flight hours: 89 total, 18 in this make and model, 89 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: LRJ ## 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 20110924023429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110924023429A), Sep 24, 2011: Tompkins Robert Eugene TANDEM ROCKET, Le Mars, IA, Destroyed. [privacy data omitted] Departed lemars, Iowa, in his experimental amateur built aircraft and encountered a pilot induced stall shortly after departure. The… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 7, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81901. 425 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 425 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355121&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.