# NTSB ERA13CA206: Poole Robert C JR Van's, N439RP, Salisbury, NC, April 17, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 17, 2013, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Salisbury, NC - Coordinates: 35.640834, -80.51889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6408&lon=-80.5189&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86668 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86668/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86668 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA206 ## 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 NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: tE flap control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022750): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction; cases with it: [Poole Robert C JR RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022750/cases.md?model=056312K), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022750/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Poole Robert C JR RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056312K), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Poole Robert C JR RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=056312K), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Poole Robert C JR RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=056312K), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Poole Robert C JR RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=056312K), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Poole Robert C JR RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=056312K), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Poole Robert C JR RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056312K), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Poole Robert C JR RV-9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056312K), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N439RP), registered now, S/N 91603, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: POOLE ROBERT C JR Van's (RV-9A) - Registry model: [Poole Robert C JR RV-9A](https://openairdocs.org/model/poole-robert-c-jr-rv-9a) (registry code 056312K) (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: 91603 - Airframe hours: 9 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20130417006129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130417006129A), Apr 17, 2013: Poole Robert C Jr RV-9A, Salisbury, NC, Substantial damage. Ruq - rwy 20, pilot performed a touch-n-go. During climb out, pilot found extended flaps to be non-responsive. During go-around, pilot was unsuccessful in… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 6, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86668. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 204 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391977&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Phone Interview with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391979&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Phone%20Interview%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Memoradum for Record - Rowan County Airport Weather (item 3, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391178&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memoradum%20for%20Record%20-%20Rowan%20County%20Airport%20Weather-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Airplane At Rest (Courtesy of the Rowan County Emergency Services) (item 4, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391176&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Airplane%20At%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20Rowan%20County%20Emergency%20Services)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Damage to Vertical Fin (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391177&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Damage%20to%20Vertical%20Fin%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%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.