# NTSB CEN24LA289: Evektor Aerotechnik EV97, N916SR, Midland, TX, July 29, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 29, 2024, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Midland, TX - Coordinates: 31.942528, -102.20191 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9425&lon=-102.2019&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: 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 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 194799 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA289 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194799/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194799 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA289 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during taxi due to strong wind gusts. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik A S HARMONY LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0600080), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik A S HARMONY LSA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0600080), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik A S HARMONY LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=0600080), [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. - [Taxi-to runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik A S HARMONY LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0600080), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, she was on a multi-day cross-country flight in the experimental light sport airplane. Two days before the accident, she stopped for fuel and had the brakes serviced because she said the brakes were sticking while taxiing; she reported that the brakes worked fine after the maintenance was performed. The pilot continued the cross-country flight and stopped at another airport to refuel. The pilot reported that while taxiing from the fuel area to the runway, the right brake became inoperative, and the airplane veered off the taxiway and into the grass. The right landing gear strut broke, and the right wing sustained substantial damage. The brake system and the steering linkage for the nose landing gear were examined. No anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation of the brakes or steering. The investigators were unable to replicate the brake anomaly. At the time of the accident the wind was 140° at 11 knots, gusting to 19 knots. It is likely that during the taxi the pilot did not properly account for the gusting wind and lost directional control. ## Factual narrative On July 29, 2024, about 1330 central daylight time, an Evektor Aerotechnik EV97 Harmony, N916SR, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Midland, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business flight. The airplane was on a multi-day cross-country flight at the time of the accident. The pilot made a fuel stop at Austin Executive Airport (EDC) in Austin, Texas, two days before the accident and had the main landing gear brakes serviced because she said the brakes were sticking while taxiing. Hydraulic fluid was added to the brake system and the pilot stated that the brakes worked following the maintenance. The airplane departed EDC on the day of the accident and landed without incident at Midland International Air and Space Port (MAF) in Midland, Texas, to refuel. The pilot reported that while taxiing from the fuel area to the runway for takeoff, the right brake became inoperative, and the airplane veered into the grass. The right main landing gear strut broke, and the right wing struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The brake system for the main landing gear was examined and no anomalies were noted. Additionally, the steering linkages for the nose landing gear assembly were inspected and full travel was achieved. At the time of the accident the wind was 140° at 11 knots gusting to 19 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N916SR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N916SR), registered now, S/N 2024 2249, built 2024 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EVEKTOR AEROTECHNIK EV97 - Registry model: [Evektor-Aerotechnik A S HARMONY LSA](https://openairdocs.org/model/evektor-aerotechnik-a-s-harmony-lsa) (registry code 0600080) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912 IS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-is-series) (registry code 55593, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 20242249 - Year built: 2024 - Airframe hours: 25 - Engines: Rotax 912iS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Erdman Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Erdman Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 15, 2024 - Departed: EDC, Austin, TX - Destination: MAF, Midland, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MAF, Midland International Air and Space Port - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 29, 2024; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 521 total, 18 in this make and model, 340 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 64 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 11 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KMAF - METAR: KMAF 291853Z 14011G19KT 9SM CLR 33/17 A3001 ## 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 20240729015629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240729015629A), Jul 29, 2024: Evektor-Aerotechnik A S HARMONY LSA, Midland, TX, Substantial damage. On July 29, 2024, at 14:45 CDT, a harmony aircraft, registered to a flight school, veered off from the taxiway the right-wing bent by hitting the ground due to… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194799. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18621978&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 286 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18643857&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photos-Rel.pdf - Maintenance record (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18641709&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=logbook%20sticker%20for%20brake%20work%20performed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18626933&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Arielle%20Jones-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� mechanic (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18621693&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Ryan%20Smith-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.