# NTSB ERA11CA471: Payne/Foster Glasair, N250CH, Ocala, FL, August 24, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 24, 2011, 18:13 local (22:13 UTC) - Place: Ocala, FL - Coordinates: 29.169721, -82.221107 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1697&lon=-82.2211&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 27, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81597 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA471 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81597/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81597 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA471 ## Probable cause The failure of the tailwheel locking mechanism to remain engaged while landing in a crosswind, which resulted in a loss of directional control and runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail gear strut/axle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Payne/Foster GLASAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/cases.md?model=05655PB), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Payne/Foster GLASAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05655PB), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Payne/Foster GLASAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05655PB), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Payne/Foster GLASAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05655PB), [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: [Payne/Foster GLASAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05655PB), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Payne/Foster GLASAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05655PB), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he landed the airplane with a crosswind, and during the rollout the airplane veered to the left, ground looped, and departed the left side of the runway. The right main landing gear became caught in a grassy area, which brought the airplane to rest and resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the tailwheel lock mechanism of the free-castering tailwheel assembly was unable to keep the tailwheel engaged in the locked position. The mechanism that locked the tailwheel assembly in place was not broken; however, the spring of that particular tailwheel assembly kit worked in compression, rather than tension, which resulted in less pressure being applied to the tailwheel lock and greater susceptibility for the tailwheel to unlock during a crosswind landing. Subsequently, when the lock mechanism was moved repetitively, it became dislodged from the notch. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he landed the amateur-built airplane on runway 18 and during the rollout, it slowly veered to the left. The airplane ground looped and then departed the left side of the runway. The right main landing gear became caught in a grassy area, which brought the airplane to rest and resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. An examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the tailwheel lock mechanism of the free-castering tailwheel assembly was unable to keep the tailwheel engaged in the locked position. The mechanism that locked the tailwheel assembly in place was not broken; however, the spring of that particular tailwheel assembly kit worked in compression, rather than tension, which resulted in less pressure applied to the tailwheel lock and greater susceptibility for the tailwheel to unlock during a crosswind landing. Subsequently, when the inspector moved the lock mechanism repetitively, it became dislodged from the notch. Wind at the airport about the time of the accident was from 110 at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N250CH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N250CH), registered now, S/N 250 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PAYNE/FOSTER GLASAIR - Registry model: [Payne/Foster GLASAIR](https://openairdocs.org/model/payne-foster-glasair) (registry code 05655PB) (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: 250 - Airframe hours: 650 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Garner Walter C - Registered owner: Garner Walter C - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 23, 2011, 0 hours before - Departed: MLB, Melbourne, FL - Destination: OCF, Ocala, FL - Airport: OCF, Ocala International Airport, runway 18, 7,467 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 28, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 1,550 total, 3 in this make and model, 113 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: OCF ## 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 20110824020259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110824020259A), Aug 24, 2011: Payne/Foster GLASAIR, Ocala, FL, Substantial damage. During landing rollout on runway 18 at Ocala international airport, aircraft ground-looped to the left and departed the runway. Right main landing gear dug… ## Other investigations on N250CH (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 LAX94LA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA262), Jun 19, 1994: Payne Foster Glasair (N250CH), Hesperia, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's loss of directional control during an attempted landing and subsequent go-around. Factors were the high-density altitude, inappropriate fuel leaning procedures, and the gust of wind. ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 24, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81597. 5.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 618 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353485&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - OCF Weather Observations (item 2, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353487&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=OCF%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353512&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record: FAA Inspector (item 4, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353625&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%3A%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Photo 1: View of Airplane Damage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 256 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353516&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20Airplane%20Damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Excerpt From Aircraft Logbook (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 1 photo, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353624&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Excerpt%20From%20Aircraft%20Logbook%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Redacted.PDF - Photo 3: Tailwheel Locking Mechanism (Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 309 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353626&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Tailwheel%20Locking%20Mechanism%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.