# NTSB ERA20CA291: Team Rocket F1 Rocket, N88XK, Finelyville, PA, August 18, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 18, 2020, 13:10 local (17:10 UTC) - Place: Finelyville, PA - Coordinates: 40.247776, -80.013336 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2478&lon=-80.0133&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101829 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA291 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101829/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101829 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA291 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of the airplane’s speed and altitude during the landing approach, and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point during landing, which resulted in a runway overrun. Contributing to the accident were his access to a limited set of flight controls, his obstructed vision due to his seating position, and the pilot’s decision to return to the relatively constrained runway following a perceived anomaly of the airplane’s flaps. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Eric Hansen TEAM ROCKET F1 ROCKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=056383O), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Eric Hansen TEAM ROCKET F1 ROCKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=056383O), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/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: [Eric Hansen TEAM ROCKET F1 ROCKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=056383O), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Eric Hansen TEAM ROCKET F1 ROCKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=056383O), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Sensory ability/limitation: visual function](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011510): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Eric Hansen TEAM ROCKET F1 ROCKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011510/cases.md?model=056383O), [All aircraft, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011510/cases.md) - [Flight control system: tE flap control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022750): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Eric Hansen TEAM ROCKET F1 ROCKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022750/cases.md?model=056383O), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022750/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not installed/available (probable cause); cases with it: [Eric Hansen TEAM ROCKET F1 ROCKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=056383O), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/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: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [Eric Hansen TEAM ROCKET F1 ROCKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=056383O), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Eric Hansen TEAM ROCKET F1 ROCKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056383O), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The owner of the airplane had recently purchased it, and a pilot had ferried the tailwheel-equipped, tandem seat airplane across the country and delivered it to him the day before the accident. The purpose of the accident flight was for the ferry pilot to familiarize the owner with the airplane’s avionics. For the accident flight, the owner was seated in the front seat, while the ferry pilot (who did not hold a flight instructor certificate) was seated the rear. The airplane’s rear seat was equipped with a limited set of flight controls that included a control stick, rudder pedals, and throttle. The rear seat was not equipped to control the airplane’s brakes. The pilots departed and flew to a nearby airport with a 4,000-ft-long runway, where the owner flew an approach to landing that terminated in a go-around. The ferry pilot then demonstrated a touch-and-go landing. On the third approach attempt the owner was unable to extend the airplane’s flaps, so they aborted the approach to troubleshoot the problem. The pilots were ultimately unable to extend the flaps and elected to return to the owner’s home airport and land on the 2,500-ft-long runway there. When the ferry pilot initially attempted to land the airplane, it bounced during both attempts and he aborted the landings. The owner described that during the final landing attempt, the ferry pilot approached the runway at a “slightly faster speed” and that the airplane “landed long.” The airplane continued down the runway with its tail in the air. The ferry pilot, being unable to see the runway due to his vision being obstructed by his position in the rear seat, did not realize that the airplane was approaching the end of the runway until the owner called out to him. The owner stated that he began applying the airplane’s brakes with about 400 feet of the runway remaining. The airplane subsequently overran the departure end of the runway. During the excursion both main landing gear collapsed, and the forward portion of the fuselage and engine mount area were substantially damaged. Following the accident, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the accident site and during his examination of the wreckage he turned on the master switch and extended the airplane’s flaps. The flaps extended normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N88XK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88XK), registered now, S/N 128, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TEAM ROCKET F1 Rocket - Registry model: [Eric Hansen TEAM ROCKET F1 ROCKE](https://openairdocs.org/model/eric-hansen-team-rocket-f1-rocke) (registry code 056383O) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-D4A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-d4a5) (registry code 41798, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 128 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 60 - Engines: Lycoming D4A5 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 9, 2019 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: G05, Finleyville Airpark, runway 32, 2,497 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot-rated passenger; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 15, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 639 total, 9 in this make and model, 205 as pilot in command - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 15, 2020; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,420 total, 11.5 in this make and model, 20.3 in the last 90 days, 1.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KAGC, 8 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 20200818018669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200818018669A), Aug 18, 2020: Eric Hansen TEAM ROCKET F1 ROCKE, Finleyville, PA, Substantial damage. Initial flap failure. (Failed to extend) attempted landing at Finleyville airport (G05). Two pilots in aircraft in tandem. Front seat pilot applied brakes… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 21, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101829. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11386660&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 143 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11386447&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=JonMelby%20NTSB%20Statement%20N88XK%20Incident_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12179278&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 232 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11531574&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11387121&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20release_Redacted-Rel.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.