# NTSB ERA20CA152: Holmgren Bearhawk, N118CR, Ahoskie, NC, April 17, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 17, 2020, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Ahoskie, NC - Coordinates: 36.2975, -77.170829 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2975&lon=-77.1708&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: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101179 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA152 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101179/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101179 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA152 ## Probable cause The collapse of the right main landing gear during a bounced, crosswind landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [John A Holmgren BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=0563219), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [John A Holmgren BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=0563219), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [John A Holmgren BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=0563219), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [John A Holmgren BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=0563219), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [John A Holmgren BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0563219), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that, during landing roll, the right main landing gear (MLG) collapsed. He added that there were two bolts that secure the right MLG and that he found them both fractured after the accident. The pilot believed that one of the bolts was not properly tightened/torqued and failed first and that the second bolt then failed due to overstress. A witness who was working at the airport at the time of the accident reported that he noticed a small airplane approaching and that it appeared to be "wobbling" as it came in for landing. Upon landing, the airplane "bounced" on the runway, turned left, and departed the runway. The witness was unable to see the entire touchdown because his line of sight was partially obscured by buildings, but he noticed that one wingtip seemed to rise 15 to 20 ft during the bounce. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, airframe, and tailwheel. A 6-knot crosswind existed at the time of the landing. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the experimental, amateur-built tailwheel airplane was also the owner and maintained it as well. He stated that during landing, the right main landing gear collapsed. He added that there were two bolts that secure the right main landing gear and he found them both fractured after the accident. The pilot believed that one of the bolts was not properly tightened/torqued and failed first, and then the second bolt failed due to overstress. A witness, who was working on that airport at the time, reported that while driving back to the terminal, he noticed a small airplane approaching and it caught his attention as it appeared to be "wobbling" as it came in for landing. It then appeared as if the airplane "bounced" on the runway and departed the left side of the runway. The witness was unable to see the entire airplane touch down due his line of sight being partially obscured by buildings, but he noticed that one wingtip seemed to rise 15 to 20 ft during the "bounce." Examination of the wreckage revealed damage to the right wing, airframe, and tailwheel. The recorded wind at the airport, about 5 minutes before the accident, indicated an 80° left crosswind at 6 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N118CR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N118CR), registered now, S/N 88, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HOLMGREN Bearhawk - Registry model: [John A Holmgren BEARHAWK](https://openairdocs.org/model/john-a-holmgren-bearhawk) (registry code 0563219) (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: 88 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 169 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 18, 2019, 3 hours before - Departed: ROA, Roanoke, VA - Destination: ASJ, Ahoskie, NC - Airport: ASJ, Tri-County Airport, runway 19, 4,501 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Heads up display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 29, 2019; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 16,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 16,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 6 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: ASJ ## 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 20200417004209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200417004209A), Apr 17, 2020: John A Holmgren BEARHAWK, Aulander, NC, Substantial damage. Upon landing with a light crosswind, the right main landing gear strut broke and folded under the aircraft, causing the right wing to strike the runway and… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 28, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101179. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483984&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483985&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 174 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483986&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 4, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483987&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-Master.PDF - Weather Report (item 5, .PDF, 273 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483988&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-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.