# NTSB CHI05CA089: Franz RV-6, N215CF, Howell, MI, April 5, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 5, 2005, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Howell, MI - Coordinates: 42.629444, -83.984169 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6294&lon=-83.9842&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Detroit FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61308 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05CA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61308/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA089 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout which resulted in the aircraft departing the runway pavement and nosing over. An additional cause was the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition. Contributing factors were the gusty crosswind and the soft grass. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - grass (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The amateur-built airplane was substantially damaged when it departed the runway pavement and nosed over during the landing rollout. The pilot reported that he entered the traffic pattern for landing on runway 13. He stated that a three-point landing was made on the centerline and at idle engine power. He noted that as the airplane passed a hangar off the right side of the runway the prevailing crosswind was reduced. The pilot stated: "I was slow getting the left rudder off [and] the plane went left slightly. [The airplane] got hit hard by [a] blast of wind coming off the east side of the hangar [and] the plane nosed slightly more left. I'd estimate we were down to 25-30 knots when the left main wheel left the runway [and] hit the soft sod. The nose went down -- the tail came up [and] blew over. The aircraft came to rest inverted." Winds were from 220 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 22 knots. Flight control and tail wheel steering continuity were confirmed. ## Factual narrative On April 5, 2005, about 1345 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Franz RV-6 airplane, N215CF, was substantially damaged when it departed the runway pavement and nosed over during landing rollout on runway 13 (4,300 feet by 75 feet, dry asphalt) at Livingston County Airport (OZW), Howell, Michigan. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The pilot-rated passenger sustained minor injuries. The local flight departed OZW approximately 1245. In his written statement, the pilot reported that he entered the traffic pattern for landing on runway 13. He stated that a three-point landing was made on the centerline and at idle engine power. He noted that as the airplane passed a hangar off the right side of the runway the prevailing crosswind was reduced. The pilot stated: "I was slow getting the left rudder off [and] the plane went left slightly. [The airplane] got hit hard by [a] blast of wind coming off the east side of the hangar [and] the plane nosed slightly more left. I'd estimate we were down to 25-30 knots when the left main wheel left the runway [and] hit the soft sod. The nose went down -- the tail came up [and] blew over. The aircraft came to rest inverted." Wind conditions recorded by the OZW Automated Weather Observing System, at 1340, were from 220 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 22 knots. Flight control and tail wheel steering continuity were confirmed by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector during a post-accident examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N215CF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N215CF), registered now, S/N 24722, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Franz RV-6 - Registry model: [Franz Carl J RV-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/franz-carl-j-rv-6) (registry code 05610X1) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 24722 - Airframe hours: 546 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 2004, 86.4 hours before - Departed: OZW, Howell, MI - Destination: OZW - Airport: OZW, Livingston County Airport, runway 13, 4,300 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 11, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 2,365 total, 352 in this make and model, 2,183 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 16 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: OZW ## 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 20050405006869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050405006869A), Apr 5, 2005: Amtr RV6, Howell, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft was landing runway 13 at Livingston County Airport (ozw), with crosswind of 14 knots gusting to 25 knots. After 3 point landing, during rollout,… 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.