# NTSB CEN23LA032: Mulholland Robert A Vans RV-7, N771RG, Englewood, CO, November 9, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 9, 2022, 10:48 local (17:48 UTC)
- Place: Englewood, CO
- Coordinates: 39.571064, -104.84161 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5711&lon=-104.8416&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106271
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106271/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106271
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA032

## Probable cause

An encounter with windshear during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper decision to takeoff with a tailwind.

## Findings

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

- [Wind: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mulholland Robert A VANS RV-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=056264P), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mulholland Robert A VANS RV-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=056264P), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Mulholland Robert A VANS RV-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=056264P), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) (defining event); cases with it: [Mulholland Robert A VANS RV-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=056264P), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Mulholland Robert A VANS RV-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056264P), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Mulholland Robert A VANS RV-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=056264P), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Mulholland Robert A VANS RV-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056264P), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during the initial climb following a takeoff from takeoff from runway 10, the airplane encountered a wind shift that forced the airplane back to the ground and it departed the side of the runway. During the runway excursion, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Before the pilot’s departure another airplane reported windshear, a 15-20 knot gain on final for runway 35R. Low-level windshear advisories were in effect at the time of departure, and when cleared for takeoff, the controller reported the wind from 340° at 9 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N771RG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N771RG-2023-04-24), registration cancelled 2023-04-24, S/N 70746, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MULHOLLAND ROBERT A VANS RV-7
- Registry model: [Mulholland Robert A VANS RV-7](https://openairdocs.org/model/mulholland-robert-a-vans-rv-7) (registry code 056264P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-B1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-b1a) (registry code 41857, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 70746
- Year built: 2008
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-B1A reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Airport: APA, Centennial, runway 10, 4,800 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observed at: KAPA, 1 nm away
- METAR: KAPA 091753 35011KT 10SM FEW100 FEW200 12/M02 A2973

## 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 20221109017399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221109017399A), Nov 9, 2022: Vans RV7, Centennial, CO, Destroyed. The pilot in command (PIC) was departing on a personal flight when the aircraft departed the paved surface and sustained considerable damage. The PIC and his…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106271. 1.0 MB in all.

- Record of conversation with PIC (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15068314&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Mulholland_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 949 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15068615&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.

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