# NTSB ERA20LA311: Zenith CH650LS, N232PA, Villa Rica, GA, September 5, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 5, 2020, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Villa Rica, GA - Coordinates: 33.756247, -84.880165 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7562&lon=-84.8802&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - 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): 101944 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA311 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101944/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101944 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA311 ## Probable cause A loss of directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aircraft Mfg & Design CH650LS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0600056), [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. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aircraft Mfg & Design CH650LS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0600056), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Aircraft Mfg & Design CH650LS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0600056), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Aircraft Mfg & Design CH650LS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=0600056), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the takeoff roll was normal until the airplane reached a speed of about 40-45 knots, when the right rudder pedal suddenly felt “soft” followed by a sudden uncommanded swerve to the left. He attempted to correct the swerve with full right rudder and right brake but was unsuccessful. The airplane departed the runway, the pilot applied both brakes “heavily,” and the airplane nosed over coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left side of the fuselage aft of the wing. The pilot suspected a possible steering malfunction, however, a postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector was unable to discover any defects of the steering mechanism. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N232PA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N232PA), registered now, S/N 650-104, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Zenith CH650LS (No Series) - Registry model: [Aircraft Mfg & Design CH650LS](https://openairdocs.org/model/aircraft-mfg-design-ch650ls) (registry code 0600056) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-200A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200a) (registry code 17404, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 650-104 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 371 - Engines: Continental O-200-A82 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Zodiac Jockeys Llc - Registered owner: Zodiac Jockeys Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 27, 2020, 13 hours before - Airport: 20GA, Earl L Small Jr Fld/Stockmar, runway 28, 4,500 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, unknown; last flight review August 11, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,021 total, 168 in this make and model, 909 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: PUJ, 10 nm away - METAR: METAR KPUJ 051955Z AUTO 36007KT 10SM CLR 29/10 A3022 RMK AO2= ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 26, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101944. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12465611&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%20NTSB%20form%206120_Redacted_print-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 203 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12463858&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-02%20MFR%20-%20FAA%20Inspector_20LA311-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 175 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12464020&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-01-%20photo%20array_20LA311-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.