# NTSB CEN18LA286: Vans RV6, N306FR, Coldwater, KS, July 20, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 20, 2018, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Coldwater, KS - Coordinates: 37.222778, -99.331947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2228&lon=-99.3319&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report September 14, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 97848 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA286 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97848/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97848 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA286 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of control while landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane in gusting wind conditions. ## 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: [Mcbride C/Kahn M M RV6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05610IM), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mcbride C/Kahn M M RV6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05610IM), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Mcbride C/Kahn M M RV6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05610IM), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Mcbride C/Kahn M M RV6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05610IM), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Mcbride C/Kahn M M RV6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05610IM), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Mcbride C/Kahn M M RV6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05610IM), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting a wheel landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane after a cross-country flight. He reported that winds were gusty during the long, straight-in approach and that he increased airspeed to compensate for the gusts. During the approach to landing, the airplane encountered turbulent air, and a gust of wind caused the airplane to balloon about 8-12 ft above the runway. The pilot initiated a go-around and said he added full power when the engine hesitated and "stuttered." The airplane settled, the right wing struck the ground, and the airplane spun before it came to rest. A postimpact fire ensued, which consumed most of the cockpit and fuselage. Thermal damage precluded a thorough engine examination. ## Factual narrative On July 20, 2018, about 1310 central daylight time, a Vans RV-6 airplane, N306FR, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Coldwater, Kansas. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flightThe pilot reported to responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors, the flight was landing at Commanche County Airport (3K8), Coldwater, Kansas after departing from Austin, Texas. The pilot joined a long, straight in final for runway 17. The pilot added that he did not know the exact winds, but knew that they were gusty, and as such increased his approach airspeed. He flew between 90-93 knots, with the airplane configured with partial flaps. As he attempted a wheel landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, there were some turbulent air due to wind, then a gust of wind hit the airplane and it ballooned about 8-12 ft above the runway. The pilot said he initiated a go-around and added full power when the engine hesitated and "stuttered". The pilot stated the engine did not have any abnormalities prior to the go-around. The airplane settled and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane spun, coming to rest facing southwest. Flames began to enter the cockpit and the pilot and passenger egressed the airplane. They were wearing shorts and flip-flops and received burns during the egress. The pilot was not able to turn off the master switch, so the electric fuel pump continued to move fuel increasing the postimpact fire. The fire consumed most of the cockpit and fuselage. The FAA inspectors visually inspected the airplane and found that level of thermal damage sustained to the engine precluded a thorough examination. All airplane logbooks were consumed in the fire, and further information is not available. The nearest aviation weather station was 37 nautical miles away. About the time of the accident, the wind was recorded as 120° at 8 knots, but later increased at the station to 9 knots gusting to 16 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N306FR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N306FR-2020-02-28), registration cancelled 2020-02-28, S/N 24480, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vans RV6 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Mcbride C/Kahn M M RV6](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcbride-c-kahn-m-m-rv6) (registry code 05610IM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (registry code 41594, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 24480 - Year built: 2002 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: Austin, TX - Destination: 3K8, Coldwater, KS - Airport: 3K8, Comanche County, runway 17, 4,500 × 60 ft, concrete ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 8 knots - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: KP28, 37 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 20180720011739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180720011739A), Jul 20, 2018: Mcbride C/Kahn M M RV6, Coldwater, KS, Substantial damage. Upon a normal landing, the pilot touched down on the mains, had a small bounce, then touched down again on the mains. As the pilot begain to lower the tail, a… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 30, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97848. 702 KB in all. - Record of Conversation FAA Inspector (item 1, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485629&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - News Article (item 2, .PDF, 357 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485630&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=News%20Article-Master.PDF - Weather (item 3, .PDF, 281 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485631&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather-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.