# NTSB CEN12CA499: Flight Design Ctsw, N460CT, Hutchinson, KS, July 30, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 30, 2012, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Hutchinson, KS - Coordinates: 38.065277, -97.860557 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0653&lon=-97.8606&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 October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 84529 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA499 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84529/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84529 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA499 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll. ## 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: [Flight Design CTSW, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/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: [Flight Design CTSW, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0600001), [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: [Flight Design CTSW, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the landing roll on a grass airstrip, the airplane encountered a wind shift and began to skid to the left. The pilot turned the airplane in order to level the wings and stop the skid; however, the airplane departed the runway at a 30-degree angle, encountered soft ground, and nosed over. The aft spar in the vertical stabilizer and the rudder hinge were broken. During a postaccident examination of the airplane, no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative During the landing roll on a grass strip (runway 9) at a private airport, the airplane encountered wind and began to skid to the left. The pilot turned the airplane in order to level the wings and stop the skid; however, the airplane departed the runway at a 30 degree angle and nosed over in the soft ground. The aft spar in the vertical stabilizer and the rudder hinge were broken. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane, no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. Wind at the time of the accident were recorded as 100 degrees at 6 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N460CT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N460CT), registered now, S/N 05-07-06, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTSW - Registry model: [Flight Design CTSW](https://openairdocs.org/model/flight-design-ctsw) (registry code 0600001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 05-07-06 - Airframe hours: 218 - Engines: ROTAX 912S reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 16, 2011 - Departed: KEQA, El Dorado, KS - Destination: PVT, Hutchinson, KS - Airport: PVT, Skyview Airport, runway 09, 2,500 × 70 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review February 2, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 1,418 total, 2 in this make and model, 1,418 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KHUT, 8 nm away ## 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 20120730029019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120730029019A), Jul 30, 2012: Flight Design Gmbh CTSW, Hutchinson, KS, Substantial damage. On 7/30/2012, the pilot traveled to el dorado (keqa) to pick up a Flight design light sport aircraft (N640CT) to fly back to his home base near Hutchinson,… ## Other investigations on N460CT (2) 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 DEN08LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA109), Jun 21, 2008: Flight Design Ctsw (N460CT), Von Ormy, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision by failing to refuel while en route, resulting in fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident were a proper touchdown point was not possible and the… - [NTSB NYC06CA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06CA135), May 30, 2006: Flight Design Gmbh (N460CT), Leesburg, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper remedial action to regain directional control after takeoff. A factor was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control after takeoff. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84529. 3.9 MB in all. - Record of Telephone Conversation - FAA (item 1, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375339&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375348&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.