# NTSB CEN20CA114: Vans RV8, N878DZ, Harrison, OH, March 4, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 4, 2020, 14:02 local (19:02 UTC) - Place: Harrison, OH - Coordinates: 39.259166, -84.774444 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2592&lon=-84.7744&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 29, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 101033 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101033/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101033 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA114 ## Probable cause The malfunction of the steerable tailwheel, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing roll and subsequent impact with the precision approach path indicator lights system. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear steering system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023250): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Randolph William D VANS RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023250/cases.md?model=05617OX), [All aircraft, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023250/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Randolph William D VANS RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05617OX), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Randolph William D VANS RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md?model=05617OX), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/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); cases with it: [Randolph William D VANS RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05617OX), [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) (defining event); cases with it: [Randolph William D VANS RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05617OX), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Randolph William D VANS RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05617OX), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Randolph William D VANS RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05617OX), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Randolph William D VANS RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05617OX), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he made a normal landing approach to the runway with a direct crosswind of 15 knots, gusting to 23 knots. The pilot was initially able to maintain directional control with normal flight control inputs after the airplane touched down on the main landing gear; however, when the tailwheel touched down, the tail began to weathervane, and the airplane veered right. The pilot was unable to regain directional control by applying full left rudder and left brake before the airplane departed the right side of the runway and struck a precision approach path indicator lights system. The left wing, left horizontal stabilizer, and left elevator sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination and a functional test of the steerable tailwheel revealed that the spring-actuated key slide would stick in the retracted position within the tailwheel fork, which allowed the tailwheel to fully caster instead of being steerable within the normal limits intended for takeoff and landing. Additional examination revealed that the slot in the tailwheel fork that held the spring-actuated key slide was slightly deformed and that the key had several raised edges that caused the key to bind when fully retracted in the slot. It is likely that the tailwheel was able to fully caster during landing, which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain directional control after the tailwheel touched down during the landing roll. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he made a normal landing approach to the runway with a direct crosswind of 15 knots and gusts reaching 23 knots. The pilot reported that he was initially able to maintain directional control with normal flight control inputs after the airplane touched down on the main landing gear; however, when the tailwheel touched down the tail began to weathervane and the airplane veered to the right. The pilot was unable to regain directional control with an application of full left rudder and left brake before the airplane departed the right side of the runway and struck a precision approach path indicator lights (PAPI) system. The left wing, left horizontal stabilizer, and left elevator were substantially damaged during the collision with the PAPI system. A postaccident examination and functional test of the steerable tailwheel revealed that the spring-actuated key slide would stick in the retracted position within the tailwheel fork, which allowed the tailwheel to caster instead being steerable within the normal limits intended for takeoff and landing. Additional examination revealed that the slot in the tailwheel fork that held the spring-actuated key slide was slightly deformed, and that the key had several raised edges that caused the key to bind when fully retracted in the slot. It is likely that the tailwheel was able to caster during landing, which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain directional control after the tailwheel had touched down during landing roll. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N878DZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N878DZ), registered now, S/N 81885, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vans RV8 - Registry model: [Randolph William D VANS RV8](https://openairdocs.org/model/randolph-william-d-vans-rv8) (registry code 05617OX) (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: 81885 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 438 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Caye Palmas Transport Inc. - Registered owner: Caye Palmas Transport Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 11, 2020 - Departed: 0I8, Cynthiana, KY - Destination: I67, Harrison, OH - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: I67, Cincinnati West Airport, runway 19, 2,808 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 18, 2020; seat: front; flight hours: 22,000 total, 125 in this make and model, 17,000 as pilot in command, 270 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 15 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: I67 ## 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 20200304010429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200304010429A), Mar 4, 2020: Randolph William D VANS RV8, Harrison, OH, Substantial damage. On March 4, 2020, at approximately 2:05 p.m. eastern daylight time (1905 zulu), a vans RV8, N878DZ inadvertently left the right side of runway 19 at the… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101033. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 813 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482604&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Conversation (Duane Hoff) (item 2, .PDF, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482605&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20(Duane%20Hoff)-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (Duane Hoff) (item 3, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482606&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20(Duane%20Hoff)-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (Robert Craig) (item 4, .PDF, 343 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482607&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20(Robert%20Craig)-Master.PDF - Weather Reports (item 5, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482608&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-Master.PDF - Photos (item 6, .PDF, 724 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482609&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.