# NTSB CEN20CA206: Zenair CH601, N638RM, Worthington, MN, May 31, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 31, 2020, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Worthington, MN - Coordinates: 43.655555, -95.583335 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6556&lon=-95.5833&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 101361 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101361/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101361 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA206 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive brake application during the landing roll to avoid an animal on the runway, 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: [Mikulichek Richard L ZENITH 601 HD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056317F), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mikulichek Richard L ZENITH 601 HD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056317F), [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Mikulichek Richard L ZENITH 601 HD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056317F), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310); cases with it: [Mikulichek Richard L ZENITH 601 HD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=056317F), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane with a gusting, left quartering headwind. He stated that during the landing roll, he saw a fox run across the runway in front of the airplane, so he applied hard pressure to the brakes. He added that the tailwheel spun around, the airplane violently twisted to the left, and the right main landing gear bent under the airplane. He taxied the airplane to the ramp with difficulty. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing immediately above the landing gear. The right tailwheel chain was broken. There was no evidence of an animal strike on the airplane and there was no carcass found on the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N638RM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N638RM-2022-02-18), registration cancelled 2022-02-18, S/N 23082, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Zenair CH601 (HD) - Registry model: [Mikulichek Richard L ZENITH 601 HD](https://openairdocs.org/model/mikulichek-richard-l-zenith-601-hd) (registry code 056317F) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Subaru EA-81](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-ea-81) (registry code 59052, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 23082 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 238 - Engines: Subaru EA-81 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: HCD, Hutchinson, MN - Destination: OTG, Worthington, MN - Airport: OTG, Worthington Muni, runway 18, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 31, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 710 total, 30 in this make and model, 710 as pilot in command, 8.5 in the last 90 days, 5.5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 19 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KOTG, 1 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 20200531007289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200531007289A), May 31, 2020: Mikulichek Richard L ZENITH 601 HD, Worthington, MN, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that he touched down and saw a fox run onto the runway, the pilot maneuvered the aircraft to miss the fox that resulted in a ground loop. The… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 1, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101361. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 999 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485071&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485072&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 652 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485073&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.