# NTSB CHI02LA278: Frank RV-8A, N54LF, Brodhead, WI, September 10, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 10, 2002, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Brodhead, WI - Coordinates: 42.591667, -89.375 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5917&lon=-89.3750&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Milwaukee, Wisconsin-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55736 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA278 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55736/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA278 ## Probable cause The failure of the nose landing gear strut for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,nose gear strut - failure (cause) - Nose over, landing ## Analysis During landing on a turf runway, the nose landing gear strut bent rearward and the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated that the landing touchdown was normal and on the mains with the nose held off of the ground until the airplane slowed down. He said that the nose landing gear touched a small bump and then collapsed. The airplane subsequently nosed over. Examination of the airplane revealed that the nose landing gear strut had bent smoothly through about 90 degrees. ## Factual narrative On September 10, 2002, at 1230 central daylight time, an amateur-built Frank RV-8A, N54LF, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Brodhead Airport, Brodhead, Wisconsin. During the landing, the nose landing gear strut bent rearward and the airplane nosed over. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was conducted in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The private pilot was not injured and his passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated from the Rock County Airport, Janesville, Wisconsin at 1210. The pilot stated in a written report that the landing touchdown was normal and on the mains with the nose held off of the ground until the airplane slowed down. He said that the nose landing gear touched a small bump and then collapsed. The airplane subsequently nosed over. Examination of the airplane revealed that the nose landing gear strut had bent smoothly through about 90 degrees. The nose landing gear of the airplane is installed in a tube mount and angles forward and downward from the firewall area. The forward end of the strut is machined to accept a castoring nose wheel assembly. No defects were found in the caster assembly, or in the upper mount near the firewall. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54LF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N54LF), registered now, S/N 81435, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Frank RV-8A - Registry model: [Frank Lorin L RV-8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/frank-lorin-l-rv-8a) (registry code 05612E4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 81435 - Airframe hours: 89 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lorin L. Frank - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 11, 2002, 89 hours before - Departed: JVL, JANESVILLE, WI - Destination: C37, Brodhead, WI - Airport: C37, Brodhead, runway 27, 2,430 × 155 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 23, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 1,237 total, 30 in this make and model, 1,163 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: EFT, 10 nm away ## 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 20020910038119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020910038119A), Sep 10, 2002: Amtr RV8A, Brodhead, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) Nose landing gear strut collapsed on landing, causing the aircraft to flip over-found nose strut bent. Landing was reported as normal by witnesses until… 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.