# NTSB ERA21LA352: Hine T L/Johnson R Bush Wacker, N797RT, Thomaston, GA, April 16, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 16, 2021, 11:10 local (15:10 UTC) - Place: Thomaston, GA - Coordinates: 32.955003, -84.264086 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9550&lon=-84.2641&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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): 103820 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA352 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103820/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103820 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA352 ## Probable cause A loss of directional control upon landing for reasons that could not be determined as a result of a delayed report. Contributing was the pilot’s decision to continue a flight with an unknown airworthiness issue. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear brakes system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Hine T L/Johnson R BUSH WACKER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md?model=05604SR), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: recent experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031045): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Hine T L/Johnson R BUSH WACKER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031045/cases.md?model=05604SR), [All aircraft, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Hine T L/Johnson R BUSH WACKER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05604SR), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hine T L/Johnson R BUSH WACKER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05604SR), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Hine T L/Johnson R BUSH WACKER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05604SR), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot had recently purchased the airplane and requested the airline transport pilot (ATP) assist him flying it back to his home airport. During an enroute stop, the ATP pilot reported that during the landing roll, the airplane became uncontrollable and veered off the left side of the runway, striking a runway sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The pilot reported that he believed there might have been rigging or tailwheel mechanical issues with the airplane. A visual examination of the brake system performed by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector did not reveal any damage, however, the brakes were not tested. The NTSB was not notified of the accident until five months after the occurrence which precluded further examination of the brake and tailwheel system. According to an FAA inspector who reviewed the maintenance records and interviewed people familiar with the airplane’s history, the airplane had been flown about 10 hours in the previous 10 years. The condition inspection, accomplished about 2 months before the accident by a mechanic, revealed the airplane was “squirrely and sensitive” on the controls, but he considered the airplane airworthy. About a month before the accident, the brakes had been rebuilt, and the airplane was returned to service. The ATP pilot, who had never flown this make and model before, reported that he confirmed the airworthiness of the airplane prior to departure, however, he also reported to the FAA inspector that the airplane was not acting right during two takeoff attempts, before the third successful takeoff attempt that initiated the accident sequence. The accident likely could have been prevented if the pilot chose to further investigate the anomaly he experienced on the ground, rather than continuing the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N797RT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N797RT), registered now, S/N 021150, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HINE T L/JOHNSON R BUSH WACKER - Registry model: [Hine T L/Johnson R BUSH WACKER](https://openairdocs.org/model/hine-t-l-johnson-r-bush-wacker) (registry code 05604SR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 021150 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 703 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 6, 2021, 1 hours before - Departed: VDI, Vidalia, GA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: OPN, Thomaston-Upson County, runway 12/30, 6,350 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 8,300 total, 1 in this make and model - Student pilot; age 66; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 20 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: OPN - METAR: METAR KOPN 161515Z AUTO 08004KT 10SM CLR 14/03 A2999 RMK AO2= ## 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 20210416022109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210416022109A), Apr 16, 2021: Hine T L/Johnson R BUSH WACKER, Thomaston, GA, Substantial damage. During flight, aircraft was experiencing high fuel consumption and the pilot decided to land at kopn to investigate. Upon landing on rwy 30L the aircraft… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103820. 7.5 MB in all. - Pilot's statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12855439&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Student pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 571 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13813768&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12991501&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array_accident site and airplane damage (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13859070&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs-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.