# NTSB CHI08LA214: Bolenbaugh Phillip William Rans S-6ES, N402PB, Oshkosh, WI, July 27, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 27, 2008, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Oshkosh, WI - Coordinates: 44.009059, -88.550247 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0091&lon=-88.5502&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 6, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68660 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08LA214 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68660/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08LA214 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bolenbaugh Phillip William RANS S-6ES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=059015R), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Bolenbaugh Phillip William RANS S-6ES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=059015R), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Bolenbaugh Phillip William RANS S-6ES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=059015R), [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-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Bolenbaugh Phillip William RANS S-6ES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=059015R), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Bolenbaugh Phillip William RANS S-6ES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=059015R), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Bolenbaugh Phillip William RANS S-6ES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=059015R), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during landing he touched down about 420 feet down the 1,200-foot grass runway and the airplane bounced. He decided to put it "right back down." As soon as the airplane touched down again, the pilot applied brakes with the airplane on all three wheels. He said that the airplane's nosewheel entered a "dip" in the runway that "appeared to be somewhat soft" and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane's nose then struck the ground and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by executing a go-around when the airplane bounced. ## Factual narrative On July 27, 2008, about 1415 central daylight time, an amateur-built Bolenbaugh Rans S-6ES, N402PB, piloted by a sport pilot, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during landing. The airplane was landing at the ultralight airstrip at the annual Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The flight was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated from Juneau, Wisconsin, about 1340. The pilot reported that during landing he touched down about 35 percent down the 1,200 foot grass runway and the airplane bounced. He decided to put it "right back down." As soon as the airplane touched down again, the pilot applied brakes with the airplane on all three wheels. He said that the airplane nose wheel entered a "dip" in the runway that "appeared to be somewhat soft" and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane's nose then struck the ground and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by executing a go-around when the airplane bounced. The pilot reported no preimpact malfunctions of the airplane. The reported winds at the time of the accident were 270 degrees at 6 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N402PB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N402PB), registered now, S/N 06061751-ES, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOLENBAUGH PHILLIP WILLIAM RANS S-6ES - Registry model: [Bolenbaugh Phillip William RANS S-6ES](https://openairdocs.org/model/bolenbaugh-phillip-william-rans-s-6es) (registry code 059015R) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 06061751-ES - Airframe hours: 239 - Engines: ROTAX 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 20, 2008, 28 hours before - Departed: UNU, JUNEAU, WI - Destination: OSH, Oshkosh, WI - Airport: OSH, Wittman Regional Airport, runway 33, 1,200 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review April 6, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 937 total, 239 in this make and model, 903 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: OSH ## 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 20080727843279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080727843279A), Jul 27, 2008: Amtr RANSS6ES, Oshkosh, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 27, 2008 at 1405 CDT an amateur built rans coyote S6ES, registered to [privacy data omitted] of sugar grove, Illinois landed long on the… 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.