# NTSB ERA21LA385: Doan Vernon D W10-WITTMAN Tailwind, N68TW, Brooksville, FL, September 29, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 29, 2021, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Brooksville, FL · Runway/taxiway - Coordinates: 28.473611, -82.455417 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4736&lon=-82.4554&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 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): 103992 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA385 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103992/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103992 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA385 ## Probable cause The failure of the nose landing gear retention bolt during taxi which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent impact with the taxiway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Doan Vernon D W10-WITTMAN TAILWIND, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=05619Q9), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Maintenance: modification/alteration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Owner/builder; cases with it: [Doan Vernon D W10-WITTMAN TAILWIND, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030/cases.md?model=05619Q9), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Doan Vernon D W10-WITTMAN TAILWIND, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05619Q9), [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. - [Taxi-from runway: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Doan Vernon D W10-WITTMAN TAILWIND, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05619Q9), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Doan Vernon D W10-WITTMAN TAILWIND, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=05619Q9), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Doan Vernon D W10-WITTMAN TAILWIND, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05619Q9), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after landing, he applied the brakes and felt a “violent shimmy.” He released the brakes and the nose landing gear leg rotated left and aft which resulted in the right wing impacting the runway surface. A post-accident examination revealed that the nose landing gear retention bolt had sheared and the airplane had sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot stated that he was the second owner and noticed that the original builder had not followed the design plans for the airplane, so the pilot modified the nose wheel attach plate to strengthen it but did not modify the gear assembly attach point which resulted in the failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68TW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N68TW), registered now, S/N 881 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DOAN VERNON D W10-WITTMAN TAILWIND - Registry model: [Doan Vernon D W10-WITTMAN TAILWIND](https://openairdocs.org/model/doan-vernon-d-w10-wittman-tailwind) (registry code 05619Q9) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 881 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 42 - Engines: Viking Honda 195T 195 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wagner Merle F - Registered owner: Wagner Merle F - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 21, 2021, 14 hours before - Airport: BKV, Brooksville-Tampa Bay Rgnl, runway 9, 7,001 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 4, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 985 total, 12 in this make and model, 985 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: BKV - METAR: METAR KBKV 291553Z 02007KT 10SM CLR 29/17 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP174 T02940172= ## 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 20210929016829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210929016829A), Sep 29, 2021: Doan Vernon D W10-WITTMAN TAILWIND, Brooksville, FL, Substantial damage. 09/29/2021, 1024 Local, N68TW landed on runway 09 at kbkv. After landing, the nose gear collapsed. The right wing came in contact with the surface resulting in… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 5, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103992. 12.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 12.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13173588&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Pilot%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_pilot/owner (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13175538&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Pilot%20Owner_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record_pilot/owner e-mail to FAA (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13175361&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_Pilot%20Email%20to%20FAA_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array_accident site and damage (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 538 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13176928&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs_N68TW-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.