# NTSB CEN20CA105: Raf SE5A, N685SE, Kingsbury, TX, February 27, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 27, 2020, 12:25 local (18:25 UTC) - Place: Kingsbury, TX - Coordinates: 29.634166, -97.811668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6342&lon=-97.8117&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - San Antonio FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101012 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101012/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101012 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA105 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a proper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing, and his subsequent loss of directional control, which resulted in a ground loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Freeman Heritage Collection SE5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05635UG), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Freeman Heritage Collection SE5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05635UG), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Freeman Heritage Collection SE5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05635UG), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Freeman Heritage Collection SE5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05635UG), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Freeman Heritage Collection SE5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05635UG), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Freeman Heritage Collection SE5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05635UG), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Freeman Heritage Collection SE5A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05635UG), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the initial touchdown was harder than expected and that the airplane bounced to the left. He was able to correct back to the right, but the airplane bounced again. When the airplane touched down the third time, it subsequently ground looped and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or deficiencies that led to the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the accident happened while landing the conventional (tailwheel) gear equipped World War I replica fighter airplane after a test flight. He stated that the flight was uneventful until the initial touchdown which was harder than expected and the airplane bounced to the left. He was able to correct back to the right but the airplane bounced a second time to the left. When the airplane came down the third time it ground looped. The landing gear collapsed and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies that led to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N685SE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N685SE), registered now, S/N 6851, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RAF SE5A - Registry model: [Freeman Heritage Collection SE5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/freeman-heritage-collection-se5a) (registry code 05635UG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Wright HISPANO E](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-hispano-e) (registry code 67006, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6851 - Year built: 2017 - Engines: Wright - Hisso E 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Training Services Inc - Registered owner: Training Services Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 85TE, Kingsbury, TX - Destination: 85TE, Kingsbury, TX - Airport: 85TE, Old Kingsbury Aerodrome, runway 32, 2,600 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 10,000 total, 2 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 4 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.45 inHg - Observed at: SEQ ## 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 20200227002109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200227002109A), Feb 27, 2020: Freeman Heritage Collection SE5A, Kingsbury, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot was test flying aircraft at old Kingsbury Aerodrome. Conditions were clear VFR with a light quartering Crosswind of about 6-7 knots. After aircraft… ## Other investigations on N685SE (1) 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 ERA18LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA003), Oct 3, 2017: Freeman Heritage Collection SE5A (N685SE), Virginia Beach, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to an interruption of the normal fuel/air mixture to the engine. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 19, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101012. 258 KB in all. - Record of Conversation with Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481352&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photograph of Airplane Wreckage (item 2, .PDF, 200 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481353&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20of%20Airplane%20Wreckage-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.