# NTSB CEN16LA271: Gerald Nelson Nelson Woody, N525AG, Hope, AR, July 18, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 2016, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Hope, AR - Coordinates: 33.723888, -93.655281 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7239&lon=-93.6553&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 25, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 93631 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA271 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93631/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93631 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA271 ## Probable cause The loss of control upon landing for reasons that could not be determined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Gerald Nelson NELSON WOODY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05633UD), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/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: [Gerald Nelson NELSON WOODY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05633UD), [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: [Gerald Nelson NELSON WOODY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05633UD), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was conducting touch-and-go landings in the homebuilt, tailwheel-equipped, experimental airplane. After a normal touchdown, the airplane veered to the left off the asphalt runway surface and ground looped as it departed the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. Postaccident examination revealed that the left main landing gear retaining mechanism was broken, but it was not clear if the damage occurred before or after the loss of control. The pilot, who was the builder of the airplane and had about 500 hours of flight time in the airplane, reported that he believed that the retaining mechanism could have broken upon landing and resulted in the ground loop. The winds were light and variable at the time of the accident. Because the damage to the landing gear retention mechanism could have occurred before or after the loss of control, the reason for the loss of control could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On July 18, 2016, about 0930 central standard time, a Nelson Woody homebuilt, tailwheel-equipped, experimental airplane, N525AG, registered to the pilot, sustained substantial damage after veering off the runway during landing rollout at the Hope Municipal Airport (M18), Hope, Arkansas. The private pilot sustained serious injuries and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Federal Code of Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the vicinity and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from M18 about 0900. According to the pilot, he was conducting touch and go landings at M18 on runway 16. Upon a normal touchdown, the aircraft veered to the left off the runway surface. There were ground impressions of the left wingtip and propeller marks on the ground. Evidence showed that the airplane ground looped as it departed the runway. Both occupants exited the aircraft and the pilot was transported to a local hospital for his injuries. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector after the accident revealed that the left wing was bent downward mid-span about 90-degrees, and the fuselage was buckled. The left main landing gear retaining mechanism was found broken. It was not clear if the damage was pre or post impact. The pilot, who was the builder of the airplane and had about 500 hours of flight time in the airplane, reported that he believed that the retaining mechanism could have broken upon landing resulting in the ground loop. The nearest weather reporting station, located in Texarkana, Arkansas, about 30 miles from the accident site, reported clear skies and variable winds at 4 knots. Local personnel located at the airport reported that it was a nice day with light winds on the day of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N525AG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N525AG-2017-07-13), registration cancelled 2017-07-13, S/N 2281, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GERALD NELSON NELSON WOODY (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Gerald Nelson NELSON WOODY](https://openairdocs.org/model/gerald-nelson-nelson-woody) (registry code 05633UD) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-290-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-290-d) (registry code 42089, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2281 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: M18, Hope, AR - Destination: M18, Hope, AR - Airport: M18, Hope Municipal Airport, runway 16, 5,501 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 84; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; seat: front; flight hours: 1,500 total, 500 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: TXK, 30 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 20160718012429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160718012429A), Jul 18, 2016: Gerald Nelson NELSON WOODY, Hope, AR, Substantial damage. On July 18, 2016, at approximately 09:30 CDT, N525AG a Gerald Nelson Woody homebuilt experimental aircraft, operated by a private pilot, was performing 'touch… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 9, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93631. 1.8 MB in all. - Memorandum for the Record - Pilot Phone Conversation (item 1, .PDF, 181 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471800&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20-%20Pilot%20Phone%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Memorandum for the Record - FAA Inspector Phone Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 184 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471801&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%20Phone%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471802&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.