# NTSB ERA12CA177: Rockwell International 114, N4851W, Hilton Head, SC, February 12, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 12, 2012, 17:52 local (22:52 UTC) - Place: Hilton Head, SC - Coordinates: 32.204723, -80.691947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2047&lon=-80.6919&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82881 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA177 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82881/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82881 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA177 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing with a crosswind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that there was a crosswind from the left of about 9 knots during the landing. After touchdown, the airplane swerved to the left and exited the left side of the runway. The airplane traveled over a grass median between the runway and a taxiway and the airplane's nosewheel separated as it traveled over a dip in the median. The airplane came to rest upright and sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. He stated that the airport was surrounded by trees and that it was not uncommon to experience dramatically changing wind conditions near the runway. A postaccident examination revealed skid marks on the runway leading to the grass median, but the pilot could not recall whether he applied brakes during the accident sequence. An examination of the brake system revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that there was a crosswind from the left at approximately 9 knots during the landing. After touchdown, the airplane swerved to the left and exited the left side of the runway. The airplane traveled over a grassy median between the runway and a taxiway, and the airplane's nosewheel separated as it traveled over a "dip" in the median. The airplane came to rest upright, and sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. He stated that the airport was surrounded by trees and it was not uncommon to experience "dramatically changing wind conditions" near the runway. During a postaccident examination of the airplane and runway, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector observed skid marks on the runway leading to the grass median, but the pilot could not recall whether he applied brakes during the accident sequence. An examination of the brake system revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: N4851W (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL 114 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14181 - Airframe hours: 3255 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 SER 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Commander 114 Corp - Registered owner: Commander 114 Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2012 - Departed: LZU, Lawrenceville, GA - Destination: HXD, Hilton Head, SC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: HXD, Hilton Head Island Airport, runway 21, 4,300 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 26, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 610 total, 239 in this make and model, 529 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 290° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: HXD ## 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 20120212001469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120212001469A), Feb 12, 2012: Rockwell International 114, Hilton Head, SC, Substantial damage. On February 12, 2012, at about 18:52 eastern standard time, a aero commander (AC-11) aircraft N4851W registered to commander 114 corp operating as 14 CFR part… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82881. 955 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 687 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364689&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record (item 2, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364793&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA (item 3, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371535&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records - HXD METARs (item 4, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364690&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records%20-%20HXD%20METARs-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.