# NTSB ERA21LA337: Vans RV7, N838WT, Mount Holly, NJ, August 21, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 21, 2021, 11:00 UTC - Place: Mount Holly, NJ · On airport, off runway - Coordinates: 39.942889, -74.84575 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9429&lon=-74.8457&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 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): 103749 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA337 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103749/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103749 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA337 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing, resulting in a touchdown on the nose gear first, resulting in damage to the nose gear and a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Sanzo Hobart L RV7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05619GV), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sanzo Hobart L RV7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05619GV), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Sanzo Hobart L RV7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05619GV), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Sanzo Hobart L RV7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05619GV), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Sanzo Hobart L RV7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05619GV), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the wind was light and variable as he entered the pattern for landing. All parameters were normal until he flared the airplane for landing. The main gear touched down and the airplane bounced. As the pilot continued the landing attempt, the nose gear touched down first and the airplane immediately veered to the left, departed the runway into the soft ground, and nosed over. The empennage and upper fuselage sustained substantial damage and the pilot had minor injuries. An examination of the nose landing gear revealed that it bent over during the impact. No mechanical malfunction of the nose gear was found. Scrape marks on the runway were consistent with contact on the strut. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N838WT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N838WT), registered now, S/N 70556 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS RV7 (A) - Registry model: [Sanzo Hobart L RV7A](https://openairdocs.org/model/sanzo-hobart-l-rv7a) (registry code 05619GV) (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: 70556 - Year built: 2021 - Airframe hours: 830 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 28, 2021, 30 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: VAY, South Jersey Rgnl, runway 08/26, 3,881 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review June 25, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,252 total, 830 in this make and model, 1,150 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KVAY - METAR: METAR KVAY 211754Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM SCT018 BKN028 27/22 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP126 60000 T02720222 10278 20228 56004 ## 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 20210821014669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210821014669A), Aug 21, 2021: Homebuilt/Vans RV7A, Lumberton, NJ, Substantial damage. Pilot departed rwy 08 at South Jersey Regional Airport (kvay). While en-route to hammonton municipal (N81) the airmen elected to return to kvay due to the… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 27, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103749. 6.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12832193&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB memorandum for record - pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12831922&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20Memorandum%20for%20Record%20508%20Sanzo%20Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 329 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12836541&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20Inspector%20Statement%20PDF-Rel.pdf - Excerpts - aircraft maintenance logbook (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12832469&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20N838WT%20Latest%20Inspection_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12850895&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%201-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.