# NTSB ERA17CA013: Mickler Larry J RV6 A, N686RM, Bell, FL, October 11, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 11, 2016, 13:36 local (17:36 UTC)
- Place: Bell, FL
- Coordinates: 29.71861, -82.844444 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7186&lon=-82.8444&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: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 7, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94194
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17CA013
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94194/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94194
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17CA013

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusting crosswinds, which resulted in a bounced landing and nose-over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mickler Larry J RV6-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05620B0), [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 · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mickler Larry J RV6-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05620B0), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mickler Larry J RV6-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05620B0), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mickler Larry J RV6-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05620B0), [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: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Mickler Larry J RV6-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05620B0), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Mickler Larry J RV6-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05620B0), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot/owner was landing at his home airport with a 60°, 10-knot crosswind that was gusting to 14 knots. The pilot stated the wind was "a little gusty" at the time and that the airplane was "right at stall speed" at touchdown. The airplane touched down on the right main landing gear (MLG) and then the left MLG before the pilot lowered the nose landing gear (NLG). He said that, when the NLG touched down, the airplane bounced into a very nose-high attitude, so he "pushed the nose over," and the propeller struck the ground, the airplane nosed over, and it then came to rest inverted. The pilot was seriously injured, and the airframe sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and vertical stabilizer. According to the pilot/owner, the performance and handling of the airplane on the day of the accident was "fine; you couldn't ask for a better airplane."

## Factual narrative

The pilot/owner was landing at his home airport with a 60-degree, 10-knot crosswind that was gusting to 14 knots. The pilot stated the wind was "a little gusty" at the time and the airplane was "right at stall speed" at touchdown. The airplane touched down on the right main landing gear, and then the left main gear before the pilot lowered the nose landing gear to the runway. He said that when the nose gear touched down, the airplane bounced into a very nose-high attitude so he "pushed the nose over" and the propeller struck the ground, the airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The pilot was seriously injured and the airframe incurred substantial damage to the fuselage and vertical stabilizer. According to the pilot owner, the performance and handling of the airplane on the day of the accident was "fine… you couldn't ask for a better airplane."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N686RM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N686RM-2018-09-13), registration cancelled 2018-09-13, S/N 20686, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MICKLER LARRY J RV6 A (A)
- Registry model: [Mickler Larry J RV6-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/mickler-larry-j-rv6-a) (registry code 05620B0) (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: 20686
- Year built: 2006
- Airframe hours: 52
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, October 7, 2016, 1 hours before
- Departed: 37FL, Bell, FL
- Destination: 37FL, Bell, FL
- Airport: 37FL, Flying Harness Farms, runway 36, 2,400 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 800 total, 75 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: KCTY, 15 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 20161011018509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161011018509A), Oct 11, 2016: Mickler Larry J RV6-A, Bell, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot was landing the aircraft and tried to avoid a rough patch in the airfield. The aircraft bounced and pilot stated they saw blue sky. Then he pushed the…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94194. 903 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Memorandum for Record (item 1, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455371&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF
- Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 871 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455372&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.

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