# NTSB CEN11TA279: Rockwell International 500-S, N51RF, Eden Prairie, MN, April 8, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: April 8, 2011, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Eden Prairie, MN
- Coordinates: 44.82722, -93.458335 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8272&lon=-93.4583&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 July 18, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Minneapolis FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 78838
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11TA279
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78838/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78838
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11TA279

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind while landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

## 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: [Rockwell International 500-S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7630410), [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 · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Rockwell International 500-S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7630410), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rockwell International 500-S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7630410), [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.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Rockwell International 500-S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7630410), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Rockwell International 500-S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7630410), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Rockwell International 500-S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7630410), [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: [Rockwell International 500-S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7630410), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he performed a stabilized visual approach with a right crosswind. The airplane touched down on the centerline and subsequently drifted to the right. The pilot overcorrected for the drift and the airplane veered hard to the left. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway and skidded to a complete stop. The right main landing gear collapsed and the right wingtip hit the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wing. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed no preimpact anomalies. The pilot additionally reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure.

## Factual narrative

On April 8, 2011, at 1730 central daylight time, a Rockwell International 500-S, N51RF, sustained substantial damage during the landing roll when the right main landing gear collapsed after the airplane veered off the left side of runway 10R (5,000 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) at the Flying Cloud Airport (FCM), Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The commercial pilot and the airline transport co-pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane departed FCM at 1500 on a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight, and had filed a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan. The pilot reported that he flew a stabilized visual approach with the airplane properly configured for landing. The airplane touched down on the centerline but it drifted to the right, and then "immediately went hard left." The pilot and co-pilot attempted to control the airplane and maintain centerline, but the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. The airplane skidded to a complete stop. The right main landing gear collapsed and the right wingtip hit the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wing. The postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed no pre-impact anomalies. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure. At 1653, the surface weather observation at FCM was: wind 170 degrees at 24 knots, visibility 10 miles, overcast 5,500 feet, temperature 16 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 6 degrees C, altimeter 29.90 inches of mercury. The airplane was registered to and operated by the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as a public aircraft. Because they are operated as public aircraft, they are not subject to many of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Exceptions being use of airspace, air traffic control, and aircraft registration regulations. However, it is NOAA policy that aircraft shall be operated and maintained in accordance with all pertinent regulations issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (AOC), unless a deviation is approved by the Commanding Officer, AOC.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51RF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51RF-2012-11-14), registration cancelled 2012-11-14, S/N 3298, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL 500-S
- Registry model: [Rockwell International 500-S](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-500-s) (registry code 7630410) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3298
- Airframe hours: 11298
- Engines: LYCOMING TI0-540-E1B5 290 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING TI0-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Public aircraft - federal, Public use
- Operator: United States Department Of Commerce
- Registered owner: United States Department Of Commerce
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 7, 2011
- Departed: FCM, Eden Prairie, MN
- Destination: FCM, Eden Prairie, MN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: FCM, Flying Cloud Airport, runway 10R, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 20, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 473 total, 217 in this make and model, 268 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days, 61 in the last 30 days
- Flight instructor; age 43; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 22, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 4,659 total, 2,480 in this make and model, 3,544 as pilot in command, 106 in the last 90 days, 67 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: FCM

## 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 20110408005329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110408005329A), Apr 8, 2011: Rockwell International 500-S, Eden Prairie, MN, Substantial damage. Pilot lost directional control of aircraft after touchdown, the aircraft veered left and went off the runway.

## Other investigations on N51RF (1)

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.

- [NTSB CEN09CA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA156), Dec 5, 2008: Rockwell International 500-S (N51RF), Grand Forks, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear prior to touchdown.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78838. 1.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346660&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.

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