# NTSB DEN01LA034: Barackman Vans RV-6, N3891P, Springfield, CO, December 24, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 24, 2000, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Springfield, CO - Coordinates: 37.400161, -102.610366 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4002&lon=-102.6104&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 8, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50843 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50843/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA034 ## Probable cause Total failure of the right hand flap control rod due to construction procedures/directives not being followed by the builder. ## Analysis As the airplane made a full flap approach to the runway, the pilot 'felt a bump,' the right flap retracted, and the airplane rolled abruptly to the right. The pilot added full power and left aileron but it had no effect. The airplane drifted off the right side of the runway, dragging the wing tip, then cartwheeled and nosed into the ground. Postaccident inspection revealed the right hand flap rod (p/n F-659) had failed, causing a split flap condition. The failed actuator rod was made of aluminum tubing threaded at each end. The pilot said, 'Wall thickness at the threaded ends is thin,' and the part should be made of steel. Vans Aircraft, Inc., said 'the failure was associated with poor workmanship rather than materials defect or structural design...the original builder had not enlarged the hole required in the fuselage large enough to prevent the rod from 'scraping' during flap extension. The continued scraping had eventually worn away the entire side of the rod and resulted in total failure.' ## Factual narrative On December 24, 2000, approximately 1630 mountain standard time, a Barackman Vans RV-6, N3891P, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain while landing at the Springfield, Colorado, Municipal Airport. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Santa Fe, New Mexico, approximately 1500. According to the pilot's accident report, he and his passenger were en route from Phoenix, Arizona, to Dodge City, Kansas, with a refueling stop at Santa Fe, New Mexico. While the airplane was being refueled, he checked the weather and learned that VFR conditions at Dodge City and Garden City were expected to deteriorate. After departing Santa Fe, marginal VFR conditions were encountered and the decision was made to divert to Springfield, Colorado. As the airplane made a full flap approach to runway 17, the pilot "felt a bump," the right flap retracted, and the airplane rolled abruptly to the right. The pilot added full power and left aileron but it had no effect. The airplane drifted off the right side of the runway, dragging the wing tip, then cart wheeled and nosed into the ground. Post accident inspection revealed the right hand flap rod (p/n F-659) had failed, causing a split flap condition. The pilot noted that the failed actuator rod was aluminum tubing threaded at each end. Wall thickness at the threaded ends is "very thin. I feel this part should be made of steel," he wrote. Vans Aircraft, Inc., was contacted with the details of this accident. According to the company's general manager, "the failure was associated with poor workmanship rather than materials defect or structural design...the original builder had not enlarged the hole required in the fuselage large enough to prevent the rod from 'scraping' during flap extension. The continued scraping had eventually worn away the entire side of the rod and resulted in total failure." ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - flt control syst,wing flap control cable/rod - failure,total (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, owner/builder (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3891P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3891P-2003-03-13), registration cancelled 2003-03-13, S/N 23736, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BARACKMAN VANS RV-6 - Registry model: [Barackman J D/Barackman Z A VANS ACFT RV-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/barackman-j-d-barackman-z-a-vans-acft-rv-6) (registry code 05606CZ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 23736 - Airframe hours: 117 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Neil L. Crotts - Registered owner: Crotts Aircraft Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, December 1, 2000, 42 hours before - Departed: SAF, SANTA FE, NM - Destination: DDC, DODGE CITY, KS - Airport: 8V7, Springfield Municipal, runway 17, 5,000 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,810 total, 37 in this make and model, 2,810 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SPD ## 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 20001224031319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001224031319A), Dec 24, 2000: Amtr VANSRV6, Springfield, CO, No damage. (-23) On December 24, 2000, at 1630 hours local, the pilot,[privacy data omitted] caught a right wing while attempting to land at Springfield airport in… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.