# NTSB ERA24LA264: Vans RV6, N298Z, Townsend, DE, June 14, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 14, 2024, 12:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Townsend, DE · Grass strip. - Coordinates: 39.373611, -75.745833 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3736&lon=-75.7458&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - 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): 194484 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA264 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194484/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194484 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA264 ## Probable cause An inadvertent encounter with rough or soft terrain during landing, resulting in a bent nose landing gear leg and subsequent nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Fosdick Jeff VANS RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=05605M7), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/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: [Fosdick Jeff VANS RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05605M7), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was in the traffic pattern for landing at his home airport. The turf runway was 3,300 ft-long and 100 ft-wide, and the pilot described its condition as dry, but “pretty bumpy.” The approach and landing were normal, with the main landing gear touching down first, about 60 mph. After he lowered the nose landing gear to the runway, the airplane nosed over and came to rest, inverted. He was met by neighbors and first responders who assisted him out of the airplane and was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. There was substantial damage to one wing, the fuselage, and the vertical stabilizer. He reported that the landing surface was bumpy; however, he could not determine an exact location where the landing gear dug in. After the wreckage was recovered, the landing gear was examined. The nose landing gear leg was found unbroken, but bent aft about 30-40°, consistent with the nose wheel digging into rough or bumpy turf. The nose wheel casted and turned freely without restriction. There were no areas of preexisting mechanical anomaly found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N298Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N298Z), registered now, S/N 60164, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS RV6 (A) - Registry model: [Fosdick Jeff VANS RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/fosdick-jeff-vans-rv-6a) (registry code 05605M7) (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: 60164 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 947 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 20, 2023, 26 hours before - Departed: 33N, Dover, DE - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: DE20, Spirit Airpark, runway 20, 3,300 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 29, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 447 total, 181 in this make and model, 447 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: DOV, 19 nm away - METAR: METAR KDOV 141655Z AUTO 22007KT 10SM FEW170 SCT200 31/17 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP115 T03140173 ## 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 20240614007239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240614007239A), Jun 14, 2024: Fosdick Jeff VANS RV-6A, Townsend, DE, Substantial damage. Airman was on a flight to Delaware airpark (33N) and back to Spirit Airpark (DE20) after obtaining fuel for a planned flight the following day. During the… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194484. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17452892&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB record of interview - pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 208 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17453164&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20FINAL%20Record%20of%20Convo%20w%20Theodore%20Repella%206%2017%202024%20v02_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Interview summary - FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17452705&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20NTSB%20MOR%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17453174&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - NTSB wreckage examination summary (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17453386&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=5%20NTSB%20Examination%20Summary-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.