# NTSB ERA24LA356: Canadian Light Acft Sales &Svc Bushcaddy Explorer R80, N335BE, Charleston, WV, August 20, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 20, 2024, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Charleston, WV
- Coordinates: 38.376013, -81.592894 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3760&lon=-81.5929&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 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): 194976
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA356
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194976/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194976
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA356

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing in a crosswind, which resulted in a ground loop and subsequent landing gear collapse.

## 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: [Canadian Light Acft Sales &Svc BUSHCADDY EXPLORER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0600052), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Canadian Light Acft Sales &Svc BUSHCADDY EXPLORER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0600052), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Canadian Light Acft Sales &Svc BUSHCADDY EXPLORER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=0600052), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Canadian Light Acft Sales &Svc BUSHCADDY EXPLORER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0600052), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Canadian Light Acft Sales &Svc BUSHCADDY EXPLORER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=0600052), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane at the end of an uneventful cross-country flight. During the landing roll the airplane “weathervane[d]” into the prevailing left crosswind, and then began to swerve as the pilot made corrections with inputs to the rudder and ailerons. The airplane continued to swerve, resulting in a ground loop to the left. During the ground loop, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing subsequently struck the runway, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N335BE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N335BE), registered now, S/N BCLSA(AT)148, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CANADIAN LIGHT ACFT SALES &SVC BUSHCADDY EXPLORER R80
- Registry model: [Canadian Light Acft Sales &Svc BUSHCADDY EXPLORER](https://openairdocs.org/model/canadian-light-acft-sales-svc-bushcaddy-explorer) (registry code 0600052) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BCLSA(AT)148
- Year built: 2008
- Airframe hours: 213
- Engines: ROTAX 912ULS SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2024
- Departed: CHO, Charlottesville, VA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: CRW, West Virginia Intl Yeager, runway 05, 6,715 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; commercial, private, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 25, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,334 total, 12 in this make and model, 2,192 as pilot in command, 79 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: CRW
- METAR: KCRW 202225Z 32006KT 10SM SCT055 BKN070 22/08 A3010 RMK AO2 T02170078

## 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 20240820011229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240820011229A), Aug 20, 2024: Canadian Light Acft Sales &Svc BUSHCADDY EXPLORER, Charleston, WV, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Departed charlottesville, VA on 8/20/2024 enroute to Charleston, WV. On landing in Charleston, the aircraft tail spun around causing the…

## Other investigations on N335BE (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 GAA16CA388](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA388), Jul 29, 2016: Canadian Light Acft Sales &Svc Bushcaddy Explorer (N335BE), Island Pond, VT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle-of-attack during approach, resulting in an inadvertent stall and hard landing.

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 27, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194976. 4.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17587627&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17587811&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20pilot%20statement-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� email additional information (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17587042&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%206120%20additional%20info-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17587489&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-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.

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