# NTSB CHI92DEP02: Rutan Varieze, N39L, Kenosha, WI, March 23, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: March 23, 1992, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Kenosha, WI
- Coordinates: 42.619709, -87.920112 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6197&lon=-87.9201&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15243
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI92DEP02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15243/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92DEP02

## Probable cause

COLLAPSE OF THE NOSE LANDING GEAR.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear - collapsed (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE AMATEUR BUILT AIRPLANE WAS CONDUCTING LANDINGS AND TAKEOFFS.  ON THE FIFTH LANDING, THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRPLANE SLID TO A STOP ON THE RUNWAY WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION FAILED TO REVEAL A REASON FOR THE COLLAPSE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N39L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N39L), registered now, S/N 988, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RUTAN VARIEZE
- Registry model: [Cobean Richard W RUTAN VARIEZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/cobean-richard-w-rutan-varieze) (registry code 056902P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 988
- Airframe hours: 7
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Richard W. Cobean
- Registered owner: Richard W. Cobean
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 23, 1991, 7 hours before
- Airport: ENW, Kenosha Muni, runway 24, 5,500 × 100 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 73; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 517 total, 7 in this make and model, 517 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 99 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F

## 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 19920323007509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920323007509A), Mar 23, 1992: Amtrru VARIEZE, Kenosha, WI, Substantial damage. Nose strut collapsed after shimmy on landing roll and partly collapsed main gear.

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.

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