# NTSB DEN01LA155: Vans RV-6A, N199LH, Pagosa Springs, CO, August 31, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 2001, 13:10 local (19:10 UTC) - Place: Pagosa Springs, CO - Coordinates: 37.268333, -107.059722 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2683&lon=-107.0597&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53178 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA155 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53178/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA155 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate airplane preflight inspection which led to the subsequent lateral control of the airplane on the ground not being possible. A contributing factor was the unavailability of rudder control due to a headset blocking the rudder control mechanism during the takeoff roll. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - flt control syst,rudder control - blocked(total) (contributing factor) - rudder - restricted, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The pilot was practicing a short field takeoff. He held the brakes and set the engine to 2,650 revolutions per minute. When he released the brakes, the airplane immediately veered to the left and departed the runway. He attempted to apply full right rudder, but no right rudder was available. He said that he attempted to control the airplane with differential braking. The airport manager said that the airplane traveled approximately 350 feet, started down slope and struck an Elk fence (the fence was approximately 250 feet east of the runway). The pilot said that the nose wheel dropped into a ditch which was along the left side of the runway. The airplane's nose gear broke aft and the airplane came to rest in a nose down orientation. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed that a headset on the floor of the airplane had jammed the rudder controls. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 2001, at approximately 1310 mountain daylight time, a Vans RV-6A homebuilt airplane, N199LH, was substantially damaged when it departed the runway during takeoff and impacted a ditch at Stevens Field (2V1; elevation 7,700 feet), Pagosa Springs, Colorado. The private pilot, the sole occupant on the airplane, was not injured. The pilot was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight that was originating at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot said that he was practicing a short field takeoff. He held the brakes and set the power at 2,650 revolutions per minute. When he released the brakes, the airplane immediately veered to the left and departed the runway. The pilot said he attempted to apply full right rudder, but no right rudder was available. He said that he attempted to control the airplane with differential braking. The airport manager said that the airplane traveled approximately 350 feet, started down a hill, and struck an Elk fence (the fence was approximately 250 feet east of the runway). The pilot said that the nose wheel dropped into a ditch which was along the left side of the runway. The airplane's nose gear broke aft and the airplane came to rest in a nose down orientation. The nose wheel landing gear separated from the airplane, and the engine mount was bent. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the pilot, revealed that a headset on the floor of the airplane had jammed the rudder controls. The density altitude was calculated to be 10,347 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N199LH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N199LH-2003-11-22), registration cancelled 2003-11-22, S/N 23958, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vans Aircraft RV-6A - Registry model: [Hammond Laurence T RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/hammond-laurence-t-rv-6a) (registry code 056073Z) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 23958 - Airframe hours: 222 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-AIA 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Laurence T. Hammond - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 25, 2001, 20 hours before - Departed: 2V1, Pagosa Springs, CO - Airport: 2V1, Pagosa Springs, runway 19, 8,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 6, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 685 total, 222 in this make and model, 672 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: DRO, 34 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 20010831025049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010831025049A), Aug 31, 2001: Amtr RV6A, Pagosa Springs, CO, No damage. (-23) Pilot was attempting take-off on runway 19. At approximately 1000 feet from end of runway, aircraft left runway due to brake application of left brake.… ## Other investigations on N199LH (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN03FA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03FA111), Jun 24, 2003: Hammond Vans RV-6A (N199LH), La Junta, CO, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in a stall during the turn from base leg to final approach. 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.