# NTSB ERA22LA245: Van Lehn Hatz Classic, N85EX, Frederick, MD, May 29, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 29, 2022, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place: Frederick, MD
- Coordinates: 39.417568, -77.374297
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4176&lon=-77.3743&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- 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): 105148
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA245
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105148/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105148
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA245

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadvertent application of the brakes during the landing roll which resulted in a nose over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Van Lehn Richard Glenn HATZ CLASSIC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=056392O), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Van Lehn Richard Glenn HATZ CLASSIC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056392O), [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-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Van Lehn Richard Glenn HATZ CLASSIC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056392O), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot, who was also the owner and builder of the tailwheel equipped biplane stated that the purpose of the flight was to perform a “final check” of the airplane’s engine and operating systems. The airplane performed “properly,” and he landed “without issue.” The pilot further stated that at low speed during the landing roll, his foot “became lodged between the bulkhead and the brake” which resulted in a sudden misapplication of the brakes and a nose over event, which fractured a wing strut and substantially damaged the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N85EX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N85EX), registered now, S/N 194, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Van Lehn Hatz Classic (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Van Lehn Richard Glenn HATZ CLASSIC](https://openairdocs.org/model/van-lehn-richard-glenn-hatz-classic) (registry code 056392O) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotec R3600](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotec-r3600) (registry code 55610, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 194
- Year built: 2022
- Airframe hours: 1.5
- Engines: Rotec R3800 150 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Van Lehn Richard Glenn
- Registered owner: Van Lehn Richard Glenn
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, May 15, 2022, 1.5 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: FDK, Frederick Muni, runway 23, 5,819 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 28,000 total, 1.5 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: KFDK
- METAR: KFDK 291147Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 17/16 A3009

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20220529009089I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220529009089I), May 29, 2022: Van Lehn Richard Glenn HATZ CLASSIC, Frederick, MD, Minor damage. After landing, half way through the roll out the aircraft was behaving like the pilot was on the brakes. As he was slowing, he lowered the tail and adjusted…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105148. 4.6 MB in all.

- Memorandum for record a�� pilot regarding NTSB form 6120 / statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 208 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14750449&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Memorandum%20for%20Record-Rel.pdf
- Witness statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14750178&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N85EX%20accident%20narrative-Rel.pdf
- Reports from state agencies - Maryland state police (item 3, PDF, 11 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14778525&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MSP%20Report%20Excerpted_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14750493&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20Template_Redacted-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.