# NTSB ERA10CA476: Goodman Robert Bruce RV-4, N311U, Gainesville, GA, September 12, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 12, 2010, 16:23 local (20:23 UTC) - Place: Gainesville, GA - Coordinates: 34.270278, -83.824722 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2703&lon=-83.8247&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 5, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77272 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA476 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77272/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77272 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA476 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to see and avoid marked power lines during low-level flight over a lake. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Goodman Robert Bruce RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=05605ZV), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Goodman Robert Bruce RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=05605ZV), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Goodman Robert Bruce RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=05605ZV), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Goodman Robert Bruce RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05605ZV), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Goodman Robert Bruce RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05605ZV), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, while on a cross country flight he decided to descend and overfly a lake. While maneuvering over the lake with the setting sun at low level, the right main landing gear struck a marked power line, about 70 feet above the lake's surface; the right landing gear separated and broke an engine mount on the airplane. The pilot immediately turned the airplane toward a nearby airport and performed a forced landing. The left main landing gear collapsed on landing and the firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A witness stated that the power lines were marked by orange balls, while the pilot stated that the balls were red and dark. When asked how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot stated that yellow or white balls would have been easier to see. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, while on a cross country flight, he descended and overflew a lake along his route of flight. Flying into the setting sun at low level over the lake, the right main landing gear struck a marked power line, about 70 feet above the lake's surface, which separated the right landing gear and broke an engine mount on the airplane. The pilot turned "immediately" for a nearby airport and completed the forced landing which collapsed the left main landing gear and damaged the firewall. The pilot reported there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. A witness stated that the power lines were marked by orange balls, while the pilot stated that the balls were red and "dark." When asked how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot stated that "yellow or white balls would have been easier to see." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N311U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N311U), registered now, S/N 2362, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GOODMAN ROBERT BRUCE RV-4 - Registry model: [Goodman Robert Bruce RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/goodman-robert-bruce-rv-4) (registry code 05605ZV) (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: 2362 - Airframe hours: 1410 - Engines: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 13, 2009 - Departed: INT, Winston Salem, NC - Destination: CTJ, Carrollton, GA - Airport: GVL, Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport, runway 23, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 13, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 5,022 total, 1,410 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: GVL ## 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 20100912046209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100912046209A), Sep 12, 2010: Goodman Rob RV-4, Gainesville, GA, Substantial damage. Aircraft N311U, an experimental home built model RV-4, was flying low over lake lanier, Georgia when the right main landing gear struck a power line resulting… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 18, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77272. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 291 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337130&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statements (item 2, .PDF, 418 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337131&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 698 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337132&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Weather Records: GVL METARs (item 4, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337133&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Records%3A%20GVL%20METARs-Master.PDF - Photo #1: Airplane Wreckage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 944 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337134&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%231%3A%20Airplane%20Wreckage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo #2: Fuselage Buckling (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 625 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337135&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%232%3A%20Fuselage%20Buckling%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.