ERA13CA206

NTSB accident investigation · Poole Robert C JR Van's · Salisbury, NC · April 17, 2013

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 17, 2013, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC)
Place
Salisbury, NC
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N439RPPoole Robert C JR Van's
Defining event
Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Dawn
Status
Completed · report August 13, 2013
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA/FSDO
FAA report
20130417006129A
Case key
86668

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing, and his subsequent decision to exit the paved runway onto the soft terrain.

Findings · 5

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

According to the pilot, the airplane had about 9 total flight hours. He performed a touch-and-go landing, and during the departure, the flaps would not retract. During the next attempt to land, the airplane was not positioned properly, so the pilot performed a go-around. On the following attempt to land, the pilot began a straight-in approach about 3 miles from the runway. On touchdown, the airplane's nose impacted the runway and the nose gear collapsed. As the airplane slowed, the pilot intentionally veered the airplane into the grass next to the runway to avoid remaining on, and thus closing, the runway. The nose gear dug into the soft terrain, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. Examination of the flap system revealed a blown fuse; no other preimpact malfunction or abnormality was found that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot, the airplane had about 9 total flight hours. He performed a touch-and-go landing and during departure the flaps would not retract. During the first attempt to land, the airplane was not in a position to land and a go-around was conducted. On the second attempt to land he began a straight-in approach about 3 miles from the runway since the flaps would not retract. On touchdown, the airplane's nose impacted the runway and the nose gear collapsed. As the airplane slowed, the pilot elected to exit the side of the paved surface into the grass, in order to avoid closing the runway. Subsequently, the nose gear dug into the soft terrain, the airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. Examination of the flap system revealed a blown fuse, no other preimpact malfunction or abnormality was found that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N439RP
Reported as
Poole Robert C JR Van's (RV-9A)
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
91603
Airframe hours
9
Engine
ECi OX-320, 167 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Departed
RUQ · Salisbury, NC
Destination
RUQ · Salisbury, NC
Airport
RUQ · Rowan County Airport, runway 20, 5,501 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
69
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
February 14, 2013
Seat
Left
Flight hours
160 total · 9 in this make and model · 160 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Dawn
Wind
270° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
11,000 ft broken
Temperature
73 °F, dew point 61 °F
Altimeter
30.20 inHg
Observed at
RUQ

Docket · 5

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 6, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.1 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.