# NTSB ERA24LA343: Yakovlev YAK-55M, N55YA, North Kingstown, RI, August 10, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 10, 2024, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: North Kingstown, RI · On Airport - Coordinates: 41.597139, -71.412139 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5971&lon=-71.4121&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - 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): 194891 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA343 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194891/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194891 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA343 ## Probable cause The non-certificated pilot’s lack of experience in the tailwheel-equipped airplane and his decision to land in a quartering tailwind, which resulted in a loss of directional control on landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Yakovlev YAK-55M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=9830224), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Yakovlev YAK-55M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=9830224), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Yakovlev YAK-55M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=9830224), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Yakovlev YAK-55M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=9830224), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Yakovlev YAK-55M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=9830224), [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: [Yakovlev YAK-55M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=9830224), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Yakovlev YAK-55M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=9830224), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-certificated pilot had just purchased the high-performance, aerobatic, tailwheel-equipped airplane and was returning home when the engine began to run rough about 40 minutes into the flight. He said that he adjusted the throttle, and found a “sweet spot” with the engine where he could make a precautionary landing at a nearby tower-controlled airport. An air traffic controller advised the pilot of the wind and active runway; however, he was given the option to land straight in on another runway with a 14-knot quartering tailwind. The pilot elected to land straight in; however, he did not have any recollection of what happened after the airplane touched down on the runway. The controller said the airplane bounced on landing, ground looped, and collided with runway lighting. The controller further described that the pilot appeared to overcorrect the airplane and both wing tips struck the ground before the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. This resulted in substantial damage to the right wing, empennage and tail section. Postaccident examination of the 9-cylinder radial engine found several fouled spark plugs including both spark plugs on the No. 4 cylinder. However, it was not determined if the fouling was preexisting or from the engine being inverted. Further examination of the engine revealed that its crankshaft rotated freely and compression was confirmed on each cylinder. No obvious mechanical deficiencies were observed that would have precluded normal operation. The person who sold the airplane to the pilot said the pilot fueled the airplane before he departed. He also performed several run-ups of the engine and performed some high-speed taxi maneuvers to get a feel for the airplane. The seller said the pilot was overcontrolling the airplane at first but started to get more comfortable. The pilot then departed without performing any takeoffs or landings. A review of excerpts of the pilot’s flight logbook revealed that the accident flight was his first flight in the accident airplane. There was no record he had any previous experience in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. Though the pilot reported a rough running engine, possibly due to fouled spark plugs, he was able to reach an airport to make a safe precautionary landing. However, due to his lack of experience in the airplane and decision to land with a quartering tailwind, he lost directional control on landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55YA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55YA), registered now, S/N 930804, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: YAKOVLEV YAK-55M - Registry model: [Yakovlev YAK-55M](https://openairdocs.org/model/yakovlev-yak-55m) (registry code 9830224) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Vedeneyev M14P](https://openairdocs.org/engine/vedeneyev-m14p) (registry code 63601, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 930804 - Year built: 1992 - Airframe hours: 853 - Engines: VEDENEYEV M14P 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 12, 2024 - Departed: CQX, Chatam, MA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: OQU, Quonset State, runway 16/34, 7,504 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: minor; flight hours: 49.4 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KOQU - METAR: METAR KOQU 101950Z AUTO 24010KT 10SM BKN045 30/22 A2987 ## 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 20240810017019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240810017019A), Aug 10, 2024: Yakovlev YAK-55M, North Kingstown, RI, Substantial damage. The pilot operated the aircraft from chatham municipal airport (cqx) to at Quonset State Airport (oqu) on 10 aug 2024, the flight terminating in a crash at… ## Other investigations on N55YA (1) 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. - [NTSB ATL04LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA029), Oct 14, 2003: Yakovlev YAK55M (N55YA), Troy, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to a fractured connecting rod for undetermined reasons. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 2, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194891. 9.1 MB in all. - Memorandum for record - FAA interview with pilot (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17913132&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20MOR%20-%20Pilot%20Statement%20to%20FAA-Rel.pdf - 6120 Requests and proof of delivery (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17905302&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Requests%20with%20Proof%20of%20Delivery_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 455 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17905421&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17905809&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA wreckage examination summary (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17913565&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20MOR%20-%20FAA%20Engine%20and%20airframe%20exam-Rel.pdf - Excerpts of pilot logbook (item 6, PDF, 8 pages, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17913650&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpts%20of%20Pilot%20Logbook_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.