# NTSB ERA17LA258: Kubassek David Zenith 601, N651JL, Aiken, SC, July 22, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 22, 2017, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Aiken, SC - Coordinates: 33.652221, -81.682502 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6522&lon=-81.6825&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - 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): 95686 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA258 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95686/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95686 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA258 ## Probable cause The failure of the nose landing gear’s (NLG) lower bearing, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to maintain directional control during landing, a runway excursion, and the NLG collapsing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Kubassek David ZENITH 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=056194H), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Kubassek David ZENITH 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056194H), [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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Kubassek David ZENITH 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=056194H), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Kubassek David ZENITH 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=056194H), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091); cases with it: [Kubassek David ZENITH 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=056194H), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Kubassek David ZENITH 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056194H), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Kubassek David ZENITH 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056194H), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that he had recently purchased the experimental, amateur-built airplane and was returning home after completing a prepurchase inspection and an uneventful test flight. During the landing, the nose landing gear (NLG) started "shaking violently," and he responded by pulling back on the yoke, which resulted in a tail strike. The airplane subsequently veered off the runway, and the NLG collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, the left wing's leading edge, and the NLG. Examination of the NLG revealed that its lower bearing was fractured, which likely resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain directional control. ## Factual narrative On July 22, 2017, about 1700 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Zenith 601XL, N651JL, was substantially damaged during landing at Aiken Municipal Airport (AIK), Aiken, South Carolina. The commercial pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Hendersonville Airport (0A7), Hendersonville, North Carolina.The pilot stated he completed a pre-buy inspection of the airplane in Hendersonville, North Carolina. He test flew the airplane and performed a couple landings before purchasing the airplane and flying home. Following the uneventful flight to AIK, the pilot reported that after touchdown the nose landing gear began "shaking violently." He pulled back on the yoke, which resulted in a tail strike. The airplane then veered off the runway and the nose landing gear collapsed when it contacted the ground the second time. Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed substantial damage to the firewall, leading edge of the left wing, and nose gear. The inspector stated the airplane touched down approximately 800 ft past the threshold of runway 25. About 65 ft from the runway there were tire marks in the grass from the two main wheels and divots from the nose landing gear fairing. Examination of the nose landing gear lower bearing, a nylon block, revealed that it was fractured. No maintenance history specific to the lower nose landing gear bearing was available. In the previous 14 years the airplane had four different owners and accumulated about 271 hours. The two-seat, low wing, tricycle landing gear-equipped airplane, was powered by a Lycoming O-235, 116-horsepower engine. The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, airplane single-engine sea, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane. He also possessed a mechanic certificate with ratings for airframe and powerplant. He reported 4,515 hours of total flight experience, 11 hours in the accident airplane make and model. His most FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on December 5, 2016 with the limitation "must wear corrective lenses." The 1815 weather at AIK included wind from 180° at 6 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; temperature 32° C; dew point 23° C; and altimeter setting 29.98 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N651JL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N651JL-2022-01-08), registration cancelled 2022-01-08, S/N 4613, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KUBASSEK DAVID ZENITH 601 (XL) - Registry model: [Kubassek David ZENITH 601XL](https://openairdocs.org/model/kubassek-david-zenith-601xl) (registry code 056194H) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 4613 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 271.8 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 10, 2017 - Departed: 0A7, HENDERSONVILLE, NC - Destination: AIK, Aiken, SC - Airport: AIK, Aiken Muni, runway 25, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 15, 2015; seat: left; flight hours: 4,515 total, 11 in this make and model, 4,515 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KAIK ## 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 20170722009159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170722009159A), Jul 22, 2017: David Kubassek ZENITH 601XL, Aiken, SC, Substantial damage. The pilot stated in a written statement and in a telephone interview that upon landing on runway 25 at aik the nose gear started shaking violently. The pilot… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95686. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478538&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478539&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478540&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Part Diagram (item 4, .PDF, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478541&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Part%20Diagram-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 5, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478542&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 6, .PDF, 2 photos, 573 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478543&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.