# NTSB CEN11LA658: Mark Divita RV-8, N98D, Lancaster, TX, September 18, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 18, 2011, 15:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, TX - Coordinates: 32.577499, -96.717498 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5775&lon=-96.7175&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 1, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminisration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81850 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA658 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81850/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81850 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA658 ## Probable cause The failure of the tailwheel to remain locked during a crosswind landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Mark Divita RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=05630VM), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/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: [Mark Divita RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05630VM), [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: [Mark Divita RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05630VM), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Mark Divita RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05630VM), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot landed the tailwheel-equipped airplane with a crosswind, and during the landing rollout the airplane veered to the right. The pilot's attempts to correct the veer by applying left rudder pedal and left brake were unsuccessful. The airplane exited the right side of the runway, ground looped, and the left main landing gear collapsed resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the tailwheel assembly, tailwheel steering arm, and rudder stops were all in working condition. However, when combined together, the resulting configuration allowed the tailwheel to unlock and fully swivel 15 degrees prior to the rudder reaching full travel in either direction. Subsequently, when the airplane slowed to an airspeed at which the rudder was no longer effective and rudder input was added to correct for the crosswind, the tailwheel disengaged, resulting in the runway excursion. ## Factual narrative On September 18, 2011, approximately 1540 central daylight time, a Mark Divita RV-8, N98D, experienced a loss of directional control on landing, and subsequently ground looped at the Lancaster Regional Airport (LNC), Lancaster, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the local flight. The flight had originated from LNC at 1535. According to the pilot, during the landing rollout on runway 13, the airplane began to swerve to the right. The pilot attempted to arrest the swerve by applying left rudder pedal and left brake to no avail. The airplane exited the right side of the runway and subsequently ground looped. The pilot reported that the winds were from 190 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot further reported having 420 hours of tailwheel fight time, with approximately 400 of those hours in a Pitts Special from 2006 to 2011. A postaccident examination of the airplane, by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), investigator-in-charge (IIC), revealed that the tailwheel assembly, tailwheel steering arm, and rudder stops were all in working condition. However, when combined together, the resulting configuration allowed the tailwheel to unlock and fully swivel, 15 degrees prior to the rudder reaching full travel in either direction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N98D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98D-2011-11-09), registration cancelled 2011-11-09, S/N 82963, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MARK DIVITA RV-8 - Registry model: [Mark Divita RV-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/mark-divita-rv-8) (registry code 05630VM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-M1B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-m1b) (registry code 41871, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 82963 - Airframe hours: 15 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 3, 2011 - Departed: LNC, Lancaster, TX - Destination: LNC, Lancaster, TX - Airport: LNC, Lancaster Regional, runway 13, 6,502 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 24, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 1,249 total, 25 in this make and model, 1,037 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: LNC ## 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 20110918024029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110918024029A), Sep 18, 2011: Mark Divita RV-8, Lancaster, TX, Substantial damage. ASI conducted personal interview of pilot in command, [privacy data omitted] on 9/19/11 at Lancaster Airport, Lancaster, TX. Pilot indicated he had made 2… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81850. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356261&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1, View of the tailwheel assembly (item 2, .PDF, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356249&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201,%20View%20of%20the%20tailwheel%20assembly-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. --- 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.