# NTSB ERA15LA051: Bell Bill Kitfox 6, N524MB, Columbus, NC, November 13, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 13, 2014, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Columbus, NC - Coordinates: 35.206665, -82.031944 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2067&lon=-82.0319&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90386 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15LA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90386/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90386 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA051 ## Probable cause A loss of directional control during landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Bill SERIES 6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05615AU), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Bill SERIES 6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05615AU), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Bill SERIES 6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05615AU), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Bell Bill SERIES 6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05615AU), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot initially reported that, while landing his tailwheel-equipped, experimental, amateur-built airplane on the private 1,500-ft-long turf runway, he experienced a loss of directional control without any mechanical malfunctions. The airplane ground looped and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot later stated that the left main wheel axle had separated from the landing gear leg, which precipitated the loss of control. The airplane was not examined after the accident, and review of maintenance logbooks did not reveal any entries pertaining to work performed on the landing gear in the previous year. Because no further examination of the airplane was performed, the reason for the loss of directional control during landing could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On November 13, 2014, about 1030 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Kitfox 6, N524MB, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during landing at Wheat Field Airport (56NC), Columbus, North Carolina. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was owned by the pilot and operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed Rutherford County Airport Marchman Field (FQD), Rutherfordton, North Carolina, about 1015.The pilot stated that he departed 56NC for a pleasure flight and stopped at FQD for fuel before returning to 56NC. He initially reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that, while landing on the private, 1,500-foot long turf runway, he experienced a loss of directional control. The airplane ground looped and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane; however, he later reported that the loss of control was due to the left main landing gear axle separating from the gear leg during landing. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. His most recent FAA third class medical certificate was issued in August 2013. He reported 254 total hours of flight experience, of which 39 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. The amateur-built, tailwheel-equipped airplane was manufactured in May 2006, and was powered by a Continental IO-240, 125 horsepower reciprocating engine. Its most recent annual inspection was completed September 19, 2014, at a total time of 224.9 hours. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accumulated about 235 total hours in service. Review of maintenance logbooks did not reveal any entries pertaining to work performed on the landing gear in the previous year. No postaccident examination of the airplane and left main landing gear was performed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N524MB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N524MB), registered now, S/N S60005-008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL BILL KITFOX 6 - Registry model: [Bell Bill SERIES 6](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-bill-series-6) (registry code 05615AU) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-240 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-240-series) (registry code 17063, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: S60005-008 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 235 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-240 SER 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 19, 2014, 10 hours before - Departed: FQD, Rutherfordton, NC - Destination: 56NC, Columbus, NC - Airport: 56NC, Wheat Field Airport, runway 27, 1,500 × 80 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 22, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 254 total, 39 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KFQD, 14 nm away ## 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 20141113023729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141113023729A), Nov 13, 2014: Bell Bill SERIES 6, Columbus, NC, Substantial damage. Pilot admitted to stalling aircraft causing hard landing. Right main landing gear axle and wheel departed aircraft causing aircraft to flip and coming to rest… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 3, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90386. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479604&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479605&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479606&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 975 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479607&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.