# NTSB CEN24LA103: Vans RV6, N330RH, Bremen, IN, December 8, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 8, 2023, 17:05 local (22:05 UTC) - Place: Bremen, IN - Coordinates: 41.473284, -86.194006 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4733&lon=-86.1940&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 193727 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193727/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA103 ## Probable cause The collapse of the nose landing gear after it contacted soft terrain during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Roland Houin RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=056396P), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail gear strut/axle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Roland Houin RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/cases.md?model=056396P), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Roland Houin RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=056396P), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Roland Houin RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=056396P), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Roland Houin RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=056396P), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Roland Houin RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056396P), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing on a grass runway when the nose landing gear encountered soft terrain and collapsed during the landing roll. The airplane came to rest in a nose down attitude with substantial damage to the engine mount. The pilot reported that the grass runway was softer than he anticipated, and that the airplane had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N330RH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N330RH), registered now, S/N 20376 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS RV6 (A) - Registry model: [Roland Houin RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/roland-houin-rv-6a) (registry code 056396P) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 20376 - Year built: 2022 - Airframe hours: 23 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 20, 2023, 23 hours before - Departed: C65, Plymouth, IN - Destination: PVT, Bremen, IN - Airport: PVT, Private Airstrip, runway 27, 1,350 × 50 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: basicmed; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 14,853 total, 12 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: variable at 6 knots, gusting 13 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,700 ft overcast - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: C65, 8 nm away - METAR: METAR KC65 082155Z AUTO VRB06G13KT 10SM OVC027 12/05 A2976 RMK A01= ## 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 20231208021999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231208021999A), Dec 8, 2023: Roland Houin RV-6A, Bremen, IN, Substantial damage. This office talked to the pilot in command (PIC)- they mentioned no mechanical issues and stated " I was a little bit off on the landing. It was an hour before… 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.