# NTSB CEN20CA220: Vans RV8, N44LA, Sulfer, LA, June 8, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 8, 2020, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Sulfer, LA
- Coordinates: 30.133888, -93.377777 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1339&lon=-93.3778&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101408
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA220
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101408/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101408
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA220

## Probable cause

A loss of directional control as a result of a fractured landing gear attach bracket.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: main landing gear attach sec](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [B & M Carr VANS RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md?model=05638NT), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/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: [B & M Carr VANS RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05638NT), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) (defining event); cases with it: [B & M Carr VANS RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md?model=05638NT), [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, while landing his tailwheel airplane on runway 15 with gusty winds from 250°, there was a slight bounce when he touched the runway with the right tire. As the left main tire touched down, he felt the left side of the airplane "drop suddenly." As the airplane continued down the runway, it began to veer to the left. He applied full right rudder and right brake, which kept the airplane on the runway for several hundred feet before directional control could no longer be maintained. The airplane exited the runway and nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to the right elevator. A post-accident examination revealed a fractured left landing gear inboard attach bracket.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, while landing his tailwheel airplane on runway 15 with gusty winds from 250°, there was a slight bounce when he touched the runway with the right tire. As the left main tire touched down, he felt the left side of the airplane "drop suddenly." As the airplane continued down the runway, it began to veer to the left. He applied full right rudder and right brake, which kept the airplane on the runway for several hundred feet before directional control could no longer be maintained. The airplane exited the runway and nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to the right elevator. A post-accident examination revealed a fractured left landing gear inboard attach bracket.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44LA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44LA-2020-08-08), registration cancelled 2020-08-08, S/N 82421, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VANS RV8
- Registry model: [B & M Carr VANS RV-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/b-m-carr-vans-rv-8) (registry code 05638NT) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Aerosport O-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/aerosport-o-360-a1a) (registry code 01301, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 82421
- Year built: 2007
- Airframe hours: 634
- Engines: Aero Sport Power O360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, June 30, 2019, 83 hours before
- Departed: L39, Leesville, LA
- Destination: UXL, Sulfer, LA
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: UXL, Southland Field, runway 15, 5,001 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 76; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 7,650 total, 9,898 in this make and model, 7,178 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 9 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 20200608011129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200608011129A), Jun 8, 2020: B & M Carr VANS RV-8, Sulphur, LA, Substantial damage. Pilot was flying into Southland Field in Sulphur, Louisiana (kxul)an uncontrolled airport for some continued rotorcraft add on training. Pilot elected to land…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101408. 12.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 8.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484857&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 309 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484858&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Landing Gear Diagram (item 3, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484859&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Landing%20Gear%20Diagram-Master.PDF
- Photos (item 4, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484860&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.