# NTSB ERA21LA396: Sonex Waiex, N220JD, Doylestown, PA, March 22, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 22, 2021, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Doylestown, PA - Coordinates: 40.305321, -75.119643 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3053&lon=-75.1196&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 104789 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA396 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104789/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104789 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA396 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glidepath during landing. Contributing to the accident was his failure to ensure the canopy locks were properly configured prior to flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [James E Redcay JR WAIEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05637ZZ), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [James E Redcay JR WAIEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05637ZZ), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [James E Redcay JR WAIEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05637ZZ), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [James E Redcay JR WAIEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=05637ZZ), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Windows-windshield system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035600): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [James E Redcay JR WAIEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035600/cases.md?model=05637ZZ), [All aircraft, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035600/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [James E Redcay JR WAIEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=05637ZZ), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was performing maintenance on his airplane and running the engine at full throttle to verify the exhaust gas temperature was within limits. He said that after the last adjustment and anticipating another adjustment, he only latched the canopy enough to keep it in place while performing a test run on the ground. After the test run was performed, the pilot departed without properly securing the canopy. Shortly after takeoff, the canopy was “ripped off” the airplane and while returning to the runway, the approach was too low and the airplane contacted trees on short final. The airplane landed short of the runway and did “two pancakes” resulting in substantial damaged to the fuselage, and firewall. The pilot further stated there were no mechanical failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N220JD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N220JD-2022-01-08), registration cancelled 2022-01-08, S/N WXB0029, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Sonex WAIEX - Registry model: [James E Redcay JR WAIEX](https://openairdocs.org/model/james-e-redcay-jr-waiex) (registry code 05637ZZ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Sonex Acft AEROVEE TURBO](https://openairdocs.org/engine/sonex-acft-aerovee-turbo) (registry code 58202, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: WXB0029 - Year built: 2019 - Airframe hours: 8 - Engines: Sonex AeroVee Turbo 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Airport: DYL, Doylestown Airport, runway 5, 3,000 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 14, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 94 total, 6 in this make and model, 40 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 5 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: DYL ## 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 20210322021189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210322021189A), Mar 22, 2021: James E Redcay Jr WAIEX, Doylestown, PA, Substantial damage. 03/31/2021 Mtl; an accident investigation at dyl was conducted by operations and airworthiness. The root cause analysis produced the following: Who - the pilot… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 5, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104789. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13582928&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120v1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13572626&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=PIlot%20statement-Rel.pdf - Investigative photo's (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13572195&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photo%27s-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.