# NTSB CEN12CA027: Michael Cans RV-8, N610EC, Breaux Bridge, LA, October 14, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 14, 2011, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Breaux Bridge, LA - Coordinates: 30.309444, -91.937774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3094&lon=-91.9378&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 27, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flights Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 82105 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82105/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82105 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA027 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane after striking an unseen sinkhole during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [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: [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the landing roll at a private airstrip, the airplane struck a sinkhole and bounced 10 to 15 feet in the air. The pilot added power to cushion the next touchdown, but the airplane drifted to the left and entered tall grass on the side of the runway; the landing gear separated and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the composite bulkhead. The airplane slid approximately 150 feet before coming to a stop on its belly. The pilot said that he did not see the sinkhole. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative During the landing roll at a private airstrip, the airplane struck a sink hole and bounced 10 to 15 feet in the air. The pilot added power to cushion the next touchdown and the airplane drifted to the left. The airplane settled to the side of the runway. The pilot decided to land and reduced engine power. The airplane entered tall grass on the side of the runway and the landing gear was broken off. The airplane slid approximately 150 feet before coming to a stop on its belly. The pilot said he did not see the pot hole. The composite bulkhead around the landing gear was split. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: N610EC (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Michael Cans RV-8 - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 81268 - Airframe hours: 625 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Charles Dupuis, Jr. - Registered owner: Charles Dupuis, Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 23, 2011 - Departed: KOPL, Opelousas, LA - Destination: LA41, Breaux Bridge, LA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: LA41, Dupuis, runway 12, 2,280 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 16, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 492 total, 40 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82105. 6.1 MB in all. - Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 285 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357264&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - View of the approach end of runway 12 (item 2, .PDF, 913 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357266&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20View%20of%20the%20approach%20end%20of%20runway%2012-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - The pot hole struck by N610EC (item 3, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357267&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20The%20pot%20hole%20struck%20by%20N610EC-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Main landing gear torn off airplane as it exited runway (item 4, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357269&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Main%20landing%20gear%20torn%20off%20airplane%20as%20it%20exited%20runway-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - N610EC and runway in background (item 5, .PDF, 976 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357270&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20N610EC%20and%20runway%20in%20background-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.