# NTSB ERA13LA288: Hagerty RV-7A, N954CH, Altoona, PA, June 15, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 15, 2013, 13:13 local (17:13 UTC) - Place: Altoona, PA - Coordinates: 40.29639, -78.319999 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2964&lon=-78.3200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO, NTSB - NTSB case key (mKey): 87228 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA288 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87228/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87228 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA288 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper recovery from an encounter with a wind gust during landing, which resulted in a hard landing on, and displacement of, the nose landing gear and a subsequent runway excursion and noseover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hagerty Charles J RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=0563183), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hagerty Charles J RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=0563183), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail gear strut/axle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Hagerty Charles J RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/cases.md?model=0563183), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Hagerty Charles J RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0563183), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Hagerty Charles J RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=0563183), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Hagerty Charles J RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0563183), [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: [Hagerty Charles J RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=0563183), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane maintained 80 mph on final approach and slowed to 70 mph at touchdown. Upon touchdown on the main landing gear, the pilot reported that a wind gust occurred, and the airplane subsequently climbed and then landed hard on the nose landing gear, which bent under. The airplane then rolled off the runway onto grass and nosed over. The pilot reported no preimpact failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation. Both occupants reported having their lapbelts "snug" but not as tight as they could have been. Postaccident examination revealed that the nose landing gear was displaced and that a person's head with a similar sitting height as both occupants would have been about 1 inch below a crush line between the vertical stabilizer and the engine cowling. When the airplane inverted, both occupants struck their heads and sustained neck injuries that likely resulted from proximity of their heads to the canopy and might have been exacerbated by any slack in their restraints. Although postaccident measurements of the restraints confirm the occupants' statements that they were less than tight, anthropomorphic data for both occupants was not obtained, therefore; the amount of slack in either seat restraint was not conclusively determined. ## Factual narrative On June 15, 2013, about 1313 eastern daylight time, an amateur built Hagerty RV-7A, N954CH, registered to and operated by a private individual, nosed over during landing at Altoona-Blair County Airport (AOO), Altoona, Pennsylvania. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight from Falwell Airport (W24), Lynchburg, Virginia, to AOO. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries. The flight originated from W24 about 1150.The pilot stated that he announced his position on the common traffic advisory frequency when he was 10 miles from the destination airport and heard the pilot of an airplane announce the flight was departing runway 30. He asked the pilot of that airplane what runway the winds favored and continued his straight-in approach to runway 03. On final for the runway, with a mountain range on the right and the wind from the right, he encountered turbulence. As the flight descended closer he noticed the windsock and it showed a 7 to 10 knot wind and was extended ½ way out with some gusts. He maintained 80 mph on final slowing to 70 mph at touchdown. On touchdown on the main landing gear a wind gust occurred and the airplane climbed, and then came down hard on the nose landing gear which bent under. The airplane rolled a good distance, riding on metal, and he thought about fire. The airplane started pulling to the left, and he reached over and pulled the mixture control and may have also turned off the electric thinking if he was off the runway and on grass there would be no sparks. The airplane went off the runway onto grass, and the nose landing gear dug in and the airplane nosed over. While hanging upside down he undid his 4-point restraint and an individual from the airport helped pull the canopy out of the way. He was able to crawl through a hole in the canopy and reached in and released his wife's 4-point restraint. She was able to get on her back, and he helped her out. By that time, the first responders arrived. The pilot further stated that his restraint was "snug", but it could have been tighter meaning it was not as snug as it could have been, while the passenger (his wife) reported her restraint was not loose but not too tight. His sitting height is 34.5 inches and his wife's sitting height is 35 inches. He also stated there was no mechanical failure or malfunction that caused the accident. A witness who is the pilot's brother reported the touchdown appeared smooth with no wobble or sway, but the airplane became airborne then, "came down very quickly" and veered to the left side of the runway. He reported seeing the nose-over and ran inside the terminal building where he called 911. Inspection of the airplane following recovery by the FAA-IIC revealed the nose landing gear tire pressure was 37 psi, while the left and right main landing gear tire pressures were47 psi each. The FAA-IIC also reported no apparent damage to the roll structure or seat restraints. The airplane was recovered for further examination. Examination of the airplane following recovery was performed by several NTSB personnel. The inspection determined that a person with a sitting height ½ inch more than the pilot and the same as the passenger would have about 1 inch of clearance between the top of the subjects head and a line extending between the top of the vertical stabilizer to the engine cowling. The on-board GPS receiver was retained for read-out. Read-out of the GPS receiver was performed by the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Division located in Washington, DC. The results of the read-out indicate that the entire accident flight was recorded. With respect to the final approach, at 1313:19, the airplane was about 474 feet past runway 03 threshold at 70 knots groundspeed. The successive GPS recorded data indicates that the while continuing over the runway the altitude increased slightly (agreed with pilot statement) while the groundspeed decreased to the lowest value (40 knots), then the altitude decreased and the groundspeed decreased to 11 knots with the location on the grass to the left side of the runway. According to the current president of the designer of the airplane, the roll structure for airplanes with slider or tip-up type canopies is considered dual purpose in that it was designed to provide a support structure for the plexi-glass canopy and also to provide a degree of protection in the event of a nose-over. The president also reported that both structures were designed for the RV-6 and RV-6A airplanes in the '80's and have changed very little for the RV-7, RV-7A, RV-9 and RV-9A airplanes. The original designer did not recall doing any testing on either design, but both have proven to have very good track records in the field. An aviation surface observation report taken at the accident airport at 1253, or approximately 20 minutes before the accident indicates in part that the wind was from 330 degrees at 8 knots; no gusts were reported. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N954CH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N954CH), registered now, S/N 71991, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HAGERTY RV-7A - Registry model: [Hagerty Charles J RV-7A](https://openairdocs.org/model/hagerty-charles-j-rv-7a) (registry code 0563183) (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: 71991 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 50 - Engines: Superior IO-360-A1LD2 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Charles J. Hagerty - Registered owner: Charles J. Hagerty - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 16, 2013 - Departed: W24, Lynchburg, VA - Destination: AOO, Altoona, PA - Airport: AOO, Altoona-Blair County Airport, runway 03, 5,645 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 18, 2012; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 137 total, 46 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: AOO ## 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 20130615013809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130615013809A), Jun 15, 2013: Hagerty Charles J RV-7A, Martinsburg, PA, Minor damage. Upon landing, the pilot,[privacy data omitted], porpoised the airplane, bouncing and then landing nose first. The aircrafts nose wheel bent and the aircraft… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 30, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87228. 9.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 587 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412863&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report and Record (item 2, .PDF, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412864&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report%20and%20Record-Master.PDF - GPS Factual Report (item 3, .PDF, 6 photos, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412865&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=GPS%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - GPS Factual Report Attachment 1 (item 4, .CSV, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412866&FileExtension=.csv&FileName=GPS%20Factual%20Report%20Attachment%201-Master.csv - Record of NTSB Conversations (item 5, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412867&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversations-Redacted.PDF - Restraint Examination Notes (item 6, .PDF, 20 photos, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412868&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Restraint%20Examination%20Notes-Redacted.PDF - NTSB Retention/Release of Wreckage Form 6120.15, and Evidence Control Forms (item 7, .PDF, 357 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412869&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Retention%2FRelease%20of%20Wreckage%20Form%206120.15,%20and%20Evidence%20Control%20Forms-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 – Digital Photograph Provided by FAA. View From Right Wingtip Looking Towards Right Side of the Airplane. Note the Damage to the Nose Landing Gear (item 8, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412870&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20FAA.%20View%20From%20Right%20Wingtip%20Looking%20Towards%20Right%20Side%20of%20the%20Airplane.%20Note%20the%20Damage%20to%20the%20Nose%20Landing%20Gear%0D%0A-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.