# NTSB ERA12CA485: Bayliss Milton A III X-AIR, N8076E, Houlton, ME, July 26, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 26, 2012, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Houlton, ME - Coordinates: 46.109725, -67.82994 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1097&lon=-67.8299&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA Portland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84477 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA485 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84477/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84477 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA485 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing flare in a gusting crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## 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: [Bayliss Milton A III XAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05901AE), [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; cases with it: [Bayliss Milton A III XAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05901AE), [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: [Bayliss Milton A III XAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05901AE), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Bayliss Milton A III XAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05901AE), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Bayliss Milton A III XAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05901AE), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Bayliss Milton A III XAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05901AE), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bayliss Milton A III XAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05901AE), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that, during the landing flare, he lost directional control of the airplane due to a crosswind. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and collided with the ground, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported a variable-direction wind of 5 knots, gusting to 14 knots. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated he departed on a visual flight rules local flight. He returned to the airport and entered closed traffic for landing. During the landing flare, he lost directional control of the airplane due to a cross wind. The aircraft departed the left side of the runway and collided with the ground. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the fuselage. Wind gusts of 14 knots were reported at the time of the accident. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8076E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8076E-2018-02-08), registration cancelled 2018-02-08, S/N 759, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BAYLISS MILTON A III X-AIR - Registry model: [Bayliss Milton A III XAIR](https://openairdocs.org/model/bayliss-milton-a-iii-xair) (registry code 05901AE) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 759 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bayliss Milton A III - Registered owner: Bayliss Milton A III - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: HUL, Houlton, ME - Destination: HUL, Houlton, ME - Airport: HUL, Houlton International Airport, runway 19, 2,760 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; seat: left; flight hours: 1,100 total, 600 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.63 inHg - Observed at: 1453 ## 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 20120726015399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120726015399A), Jul 26, 2012: Bayliss Milton A III XAIR, Houlton, ME, Destroyed. The pilot was conducting a series of takeoffs and landings at the Houlton International Airport, Houlton, ME (hul).the pilot was attempting to land on runway… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 16, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84477. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374502&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374448&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1- Front view of airplane at rest. Photo FAA (item 3, .PDF, 834 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374449&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-%20Front%20view%20of%20airplane%20at%20rest.%20Photo%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 2- Right side view of airplane. Photo FAA (item 4, .PDF, 830 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374450&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-%20Right%20side%20view%20of%20airplane.%20Photo%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Left side view of airplane. Photo FAA (item 5, .PDF, 841 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374451&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Left%20side%20view%20of%20airplane.%20Photo%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.