# NTSB ERA21LA136: Turcotte JR Robert L RV6, N642LT, North Hampton, NH, February 24, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 24, 2021, 09:46 local (14:46 UTC) - Place: North Hampton, NH - Coordinates: 42.961567, -70.830254 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9616&lon=-70.8303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - 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): 102667 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA136 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102667/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102667 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA136 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing in a crosswind condition, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## 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: [Turcotte JR Robert L RV6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05636GM), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Turcotte JR Robert L RV6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05636GM), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Turcotte JR Robert L RV6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05636GM), [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Turcotte JR Robert L RV6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05636GM), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the approach to the runway was very stable. He performed a wheel landing in the tailwheel equipped airplane and touched down on runway 20 just past the numbers on the centerline. Before the tailwheel settled onto the runway, a gust of wind struck the airplane. The pilot corrected the airplane, but another “stronger” gust struck the airplane again resulting in the airplane veering off the right side of the runway. The airplane impacted the snow in the grass area between the runway and taxiway and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The winds reported at an airport 7 miles to the north of the accident location were from 240° at 9 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N642LT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N642LT), registered now, S/N 25596, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TURCOTTE JR ROBERT L RV6 - Registry model: [Turcotte JR Robert L RV6](https://openairdocs.org/model/turcotte-jr-robert-l-rv6) (registry code 05636GM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Mattituck TMX IO-360](https://openairdocs.org/engine/mattituck-tmx-io-360) (registry code 59608, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 25596 - Year built: 2019 - Airframe hours: 33 - Engines: ECI TMX IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 20, 2020 - Departed: 7B6, Warehouse Point, CT - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 7B3, Hampton Airfield, runway 20, 2,105 × 121 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 31, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,722 total, 66 in this make and model, 1,114 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0.8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: PSM, 7 nm away - METAR: KPSM 241456Z 24009KT 10SM SCT040 SCT250 06/M04 A2993 RMK AO2A SLP137 T00621040 ## 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 20210224002479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210224002479A), Feb 24, 2021: Turcotte Jr Robert L RV6, Hampton, NH, Substantial damage. On 2/24/21 at about 0946 local time aircraft N642LT landed on runway 20 at Hampton Airfield (7B3) and during landing rollout, departed the runway into the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 15, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102667. 14.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 12.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12058180&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%206120%20LA136_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12057907&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA136-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.