# NTSB CEN20CA251: Sonex Onex, N951X, Minneapolis, MN, June 25, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 25, 2020, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Minneapolis, MN - Coordinates: 45.145278, -93.211944 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1453&lon=-93.2119&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - 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: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101505 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA251 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101505/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101505 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA251 ## Probable cause The pilot's hard landing on the airplane's nosewheel, which jammed the steering, and resulted in a runway excursion and impact with runway lights. ## 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: [Waters David L ONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05636Q2), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Waters David L ONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05636Q2), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Waters David L ONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05636Q2), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Waters David L ONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05636Q2), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Waters David L ONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05636Q2), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he departed in a single-seat homebuilt airplane; however, the airplane did not feel "stable", so he elected to abort the takeoff. During touchdown, the airplane's nose landing gear hit the runway first. After the nose landing gear struck the runway, the rudder was jammed, and the airplane departed the runway surface. The airplane struck a runway light before coming to a stop. Examination of the airplane found that firewall damage had impacted and jammed the nosewheel steering and rudder controls. Damage to the airplane's left-wing leading edge, and substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer, and elevator were also noted. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he departed in a single-seat homebuilt airplane; however, the airplane did not feel "stable", so he elected to abort the takeoff. During touchdown, the airplane's nose landing gear hit the runway first. After the nose landing gear struck the runway, the rudder was jammed, and the airplane departed the runway surface. The airplane struck a runway light before coming to a stop. Examination of the airplane found that firewall damage had impacted and jammed the nosewheel steering and rudder controls. Damage to the airplane's left-wing leading edge, and substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer, and elevator were also noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N951X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N951X), registered now, S/N ONX0028, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SONEX ONEX - Registry model: [Waters David L ONEX](https://openairdocs.org/model/waters-david-l-onex) (registry code 05636Q2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Revmaster 2300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/revmaster-2300) (registry code 52551, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: ONX0028 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 9 - Engines: Revmaster 2300 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 23, 2019 - Departed: ANE, Minneapolis, MN - Destination: ANE, Minneapolis, MN - Airport: ANE, Anoka County-Blaine Airport, runway 27, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 82; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 2, 2020; seat: single; flight hours: 884 total, 5.3 in this make and model, 849 as pilot in command, 1.2 in the last 90 days, 1.2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KANE ## 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 20200625008359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200625008359A), Jun 25, 2020: Waters David L ONEX, Anoka, MN, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted to take off from rwy 27, during the take-off roll the pilot stated that the aircraft did not feel right so he attempted to abort the take-off,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101505. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 487 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10003214&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA powerpoint slides (item 2, PDF, 7 pages, 932 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10000840&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20N951X%20Power%20point-Rel.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.