# NTSB DEN99LA078: Bell/Mason RV-6, N107BB, Albuquerque, NM, May 14, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 14, 1999, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.059513, -106.620979 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0595&lon=-106.6210&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46379 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46379/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA078 ## Probable cause The loss of aircraft control for undetermined reasons. Factors were the sudden wind shift and wind gusts weather condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - sudden windshift (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - aircraft control - not maintained (cause) - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane was on final approach for runway 22, and the wind was 260 degrees at 22 knots with gusts to 31 knots. A witness reported that moments before the accident, the wind shifted around to the right approximately 90 degrees. The pilot said the airplane suddenly yawed to the right 35 to 45 degrees, and he executed a go-around. A pilot flying a helicopter approximately 1 mile behind the accident airplane reported seeing the airplane 'dutch roll' approximately 3 or 4 times with bank angles of approximately 35 to 40 degrees. The airplane appeared to 'snap roll to the left,' and stall/mush to the ground with the left wing tip impacting first. ## Factual narrative On May 14, 1999, approximately 1330 mountain daylight time, a Bell/Mason RV-6, N107BB, was substantially damaged during a landing at Double Eagle II Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The certificated commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The airplane was being operated by the pilot under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country personal flight which originated from Ft. Worth, Texas, 3.5 hours before the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The airplane was on final approach for runway 22, at approximately 200 feet above ground level (agl), flying between 85 to 90 mph with full flaps. The pilot, a former military test pilot, said that the airplane suddenly yawed to the right approximately 35 to 45 degrees. He applied full power, raised the flaps, and executed a go-around. He said the airplane sideslipped to the left, then sideslipped to the right, and repeated this pattern for 3 to 4 cycles. The pilot said that "attempts to dampen the oscillation by leading the yaw were unsuccessful." He said that the sideslipping oscillations caused the airspeed to decrease to approximately 65 mph. During the 4th cycle of oscillations, the "aircraft made a rapid left roll to near inverted attitude," and he managed to continue to roll the airplane to the upright position. The airplane immediately impacted the ground "in a generally flat attitude with the left wing striking the ground first." He stated that the whole sequence extended for over a mile, or 30 to 45 seconds. The pilot said that he heard on the airport's Common Traffic Advisory Frequency that the wind was 260 degrees at 22 knots with gusts to 31 knots. A witness on the ground reported that moments before the accident, the wind had shifted around to the right approximately 90 degrees. A pilot flying a helicopter approximately 1 mile behind the accident airplane reported seeing the airplane "dutch roll" approximately 3 or 4 times with bank angles of approximately 35 to 40 degrees. The airplane appeared to "snap roll to the left," and stall/mush to the ground with the left wing tip impacting first. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N107BB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N107BB-2001-03-05), registration cancelled 2001-03-05, S/N 21244 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell/Mason RV-6 - Registry model: [Bell R L / Mason P O RV6](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-r-l-mason-p-o-rv6) (registry code 05608UP) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 21244 - Airframe hours: 221 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas P. Mcatee - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 8, 1999, 4 hours before - Departed: T67, FT. WORTH, TX - Destination: AEG - Airport: AEG, Double Eagle II, runway 22, 7,398 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 5,000 total, 90 in this make and model, 4,800 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 20 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: AEG, 1 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 19990514005149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990514005149A), May 14, 1999: Amtr RV6, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. Acft was on final approach to rwy 22 and the auto pilot did not disconnect, the acft yawed severely to the left and right, did a complete aileron roll at… 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.