# NTSB CEN23LA134: Honda HA-420, N118CX, Buena Vista, CO, March 6, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 5, 2023, 18:09 local (Mar 6, 2023, 01:09 UTC)
- Place: Buena Vista, CO
- Coordinates: 38.814, -106.1208 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8140&lon=-106.1208&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: 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): 106886
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA134
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106886/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106886
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA134

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inability to maintain directional control during landing with a gusting left crosswind resulting in the runway excursion.

## 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: [Honda HA-420, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=4400000), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Honda HA-420, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=4400000), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Honda HA-420, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=4400000), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Honda HA-420, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=4400000), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Honda HA-420, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=4400000), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Honda HA-420, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=4400000), [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: [Honda HA-420, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=4400000), [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: [Honda HA-420, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=4400000), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The airplane was coming into the airport to land following a cross-country flight. The pilot reported they checked the weather, entered the current conditions in the Garmin Control Unit, and received the results they expected for the RNAV approach to runway 33. The airport manager came on the radios and reported the winds as 280o at 8 knots, gusting to 19 knots. The crew captured the glidepath before the final approach fix and the co-pilot called out speeds to touchdown, the last being 115 kts. The touchdown was normal, but then the airplane experienced a strong yaw to the left from a wind gust. The pilot attempted to steer the airplane back, but the airplane went off the left side of the runway, struck a taxiway sign, and came to a stop with the nose of the airplane facing the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left inboard wing and lower left fuselage. The crew reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the airplane was landing on runway 33 with reported winds 280o at 8 knots with gusts to 24 knots. Following the accident, the company put in place stricter crosswind component limits for its’ fleet of airplanes.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N118CX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N118CX), registered now, S/N 42000231, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HONDA AIRCRAFT CO LLC HA-420
- Registry model: [Honda HA-420](https://openairdocs.org/model/honda-ha-420) (registry code 4400000) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [GE Honda HF-120](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-honda-hf-120) (registry code 30200, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 42000231
- Year built: 2022
- Airframe hours: 486
- Engines: General Electric HF-120 1997 lbs thrust turbo jet; General Electric HF-120 1997 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: G C Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Nesama LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 23, 2023
- Departed: MRY, Monterey, CA
- Destination: AEJ, Buena Vista, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: KAEJ, Central Colorado Regional Airport, runway 33, 8,303 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Co-pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 17, 2022; seat: right; flight hours: 6,650 total, 67 in this make and model, 3,157 as pilot in command, 67 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 23, 2022; seat: left; flight hours: 8,844.9 total, 181.6 in this make and model, 4,501 as pilot in command, 111.1 in the last 90 days, 47.7 in the last 30 days, 3.8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 280° at 8 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 3 °F
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observed at: KAEJ, 7 nm away
- METAR: KAEJ 060055Z AUTO 28008G24KT 10SM CLR 03/M16 A2983 RMK AO2 T00301162

## 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 20230305002549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230305002549A), Mar 5, 2023: Honda Aircraft Co LLC HA-420, Buena Vista, CO, Substantial damage. On March 05, 2023 at approximately 0109Z (1809 MST) the aircraft landed on rwy 33 at aej and then departed the left side of the runway after encountering…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106886. 2.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15854353&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20Buena%20Vista,%20CO%20HA-420_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15854576&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Copilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 222 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15854611&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Copilot%27s%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Company's changes to HA-420 crosswind limits (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15854586&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Company%20changes%20to%20Crosswind%20Limits_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Company's new HA-420 crosswind performance chart (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15855430&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Company%20New%20HA-420%20Crosswind%20Performance-Rel.pdf
- Photograph (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 220 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15854596&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photograph-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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