# NTSB CEN12LA531: Ristine Avid Mark IV, N1328L, Poplar Grove, IL, August 9, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 2012, 19:30 local (Aug 9, 2012, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Poplar Grove, IL - Coordinates: 42.322776, -88.836112 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3228&lon=-88.8361&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 84615 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA531 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84615/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84615 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA531 ## Probable cause The failure of the lower right side longeron tail-spring support area during landing due to excessive corrosion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Empennage structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035500): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Ristine Wayne L AVID MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035500/cases.md?model=05624E2), [All aircraft, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035500/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: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Ristine Wayne L AVID MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05624E2), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Ristine Wayne L AVID MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05624E2), [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: [Ristine Wayne L AVID MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05624E2), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported he made 10 landings during light and variable wind conditions, the first nine of which were uneventful; however, on the 10th landing there was a sudden uncontrolled “jerk” to the left. The pilot was unable to maintain control and the airplane departed the runway into the grass. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the lower right longeron tail-spring failed due to corrosion. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 2012, about 1930 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Ristine Avid Mark IV airplane, N1328L, exited runway 12 at the Poplar Grove Airport (C77), near Poplar Grove, Illinois, following a loss of directional control. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The airplane sustained substantial empennage damage. 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 flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a VFR flight plan. The local flight originated from C77 about 1910. According to the pilot, he performed about ten landings during light and variable wind conditions on the hard surface runway at C77. The landings were on centerline with no drift or "tire protest" and all of the landings were three-point near stall landings. The last landing was on centerline, straight with no left drift tendency until there was a sudden, uncontrolled “jerk” to the left. The pilot indicated that the motion could not be stopped with opposite rudder and the aircraft rolled off the runway onto the smooth grass. The airplane continued and ultimately came to rest in the long grass about 150 degrees from the landing direction. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane. The inspector found that the lower right side longeron tail-spring support area failed due to excessive corrosion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1328L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1328L), registered now, S/N 1328D, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RISTINE AVID MARK IV - Registry model: [Ristine Wayne L AVID MARK IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/ristine-wayne-l-avid-mark-iv) (registry code 05624E2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1328D - Airframe hours: 360 - Engines: Rotax 582 64 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 5, 2012 - Departed: C77, Poplar Grove, IL - Destination: C77, Poplar Grove, IL - Airport: C77, Poplar Grove Airport, runway 12, 3,773 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 9, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 17,500 total, 325 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 30° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: RFD, 14 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 20120808018019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120808018019A), Aug 8, 2012: Ristine Wayne L AVID MARK IV, Poplar Grove, IL, Substantial damage. Pilot preformed 10 takeoffs and landings. The last landing was a normal three point touchdown on centerline and during rollout aircarft veered off the left… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 7, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84615. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387223&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Miscellaneous - Communication Summary (item 2, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387269&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20-%20Communication%20Summary-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.