# NTSB ERA10CA352: Vans RV8, N801RG, Port Orange, FL, July 10, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 10, 2010, 19:10 local (23:10 UTC) - Place: Port Orange, FL - Coordinates: 29.074722, -81.041389 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0747&lon=-81.0414&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76573 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA352 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76573/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76573 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA352 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Gandt R/ NYS J RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05622WX), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Gandt R/ NYS J RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05622WX), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: incomplete action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Gandt R/ NYS J RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md?model=05622WX), [All aircraft, 105 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Gandt R/ NYS J RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05622WX), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Gandt R/ NYS J RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05622WX), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot/owner of the tailwheel-equipped airplane stated that he was conducting touch-and-go landings at the conclusion of a 30-minute local pleasure flight. he noted that the first two landings were normal, and the third touchdown was "smooth." As the pilot lowered the tailwheel, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot corrected, and the airplane made "an abrupt swerve to the right." The left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest upright in grass off the right edge of the runway. The left wing sustained substantial damage, and closer inspection of the airplane revealed that the left undercarriage outboard attachment bracket had fractured. Examination of the bracket at the NTSB Materials Laboratory indicated that the fracture was the result of overstress. In a subsequent interview, the pilot stated that he typically wore a parachute while flying, but was not wearing one during the accident flight. He stated that the absence of the parachute placed him further from the controls than he was accustomed, and that he was unable to move the rudder pedals through their full range of motion. The pilot stated that there were no deficiencies in the performance or handling of the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot/owner of the tail-wheeled airplane stated that he was conducting touch-and-go landings at the conclusion of a 30-minute local pleasure flight. The first two landings were "normal," and the third touchdown was "smooth." As the pilot lowered the tailwheel, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot corrected, and the airplane made "an abrupt swerve to the right." The left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright in grass off the right edge of the runway. The left wing sustained substantial damage, and closer inspection of the airplane revealed that the left undercarriage outboard attachment bracket had fractured. Examination of the bracket at the NTSB Materials Laboratory indicated that the fracture was the result of overstress. In a subsequent interview, the pilot stated that he typically wore a parachute while flying, but was not wearing one during the accident flight. He stated that the absence of the parachute placed him further from the controls than he was accustomed, and that he was unable to move the rudder pedals through their full range of motion. The pilot stated that there were no deficiencies in the performance or handling of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N801RG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N801RG), registered now, S/N 82572, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS RV8 - Registry model: [Gandt R/ NYS J RV-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/gandt-r-nys-j-rv-8) (registry code 05622WX) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 83572 - Airframe hours: 177 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-380 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert L. Gandt - Registered owner: Robert L. Gandt - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 30, 2009 - Departed: 7FL6, Port Orange, FL - Destination: 7FL6, Port Orange, FL - Airport: 7FL6, Spruce Creek, runway 05, 4,000 × 176 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 26, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 25,000 total, 177 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: 7FL6 ## 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 20100710038199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100710038199A), Jul 10, 2010: Gandt R/ Ny RV-8, Port Orange, FL, Substantial damage. During the landing roll out on runway 5 at Spruce Creek Airport (7FL6) pilot loss control of aircraft and ground looped. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76573. 920 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 474 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335223&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record (item 2, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334509&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF - Materials Laboratory 15 - Factual Report 10-074 (item 3, .PDF, 428 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334262&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%2015%20-%20Factual%20Report%2010-074-Master.PDF 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.