# NTSB FTW02LA050: Heard RV-6A, N61AZ, Comfort, TX, December 9, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 9, 2001, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Comfort, TX - Coordinates: 29.970447, -98.900482 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9704&lon=-98.9005&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53894 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53894/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA050 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a hard landing and collapse of the nose landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis Following a bounced initial touchdown, the nose landing gear collapsed during the second touchdown. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, the nose landing gear strut failed "due to an excessive aft-ward force occurring on final touchdown location." ## Factual narrative On December 9, 2001, at 1430 central standard time, a Heard RV-6A, experimental homebuilt airplane, N61AZ, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing on runway 32 at the Comfort Airpark Airport, Comfort, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot received minor injuries, and the passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight departed Sonora, Texas, approximately 1330. The pilot reported that during the initial touchdown on the grass runway, the airplane bounced. Subsequently, the airplane touched down again, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot stated that the winds were from 300 degrees at 3 to 4 knots. The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, stated the nose landing gear strut failed "due to an excessive aft-ward force occurring on final touchdown location." The vertical stabilizer and rudder were crushed. The fuselage was wrinkled and the canopy destroyed. The propeller blades were bent. A 5-point restraint system was installed in the airplane. On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), in the Recommendation (How could this accident have been prevented) section, the pilot wrote: "redesigned and stronger nose gear assembly." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61AZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61AZ-2013-05-23), registration cancelled 2013-05-23, S/N 20150, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Heard RV-6A - Registry model: [Heard J H RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/heard-j-h-rv-6a) (registry code 05610OY) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 20150 - Airframe hours: 96 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Henry R. McKay - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 2001, 28 hours before - Departed: E2D, Sonora, TX - Destination: 1T5, Comfort, TX - Airport: 1T5, Comfort Airpark Airport, runway 32, 1,950 × 30 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 16, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 435 total, 26 in this make and model, 295 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg ## 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 20011209035679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011209035679A), Dec 9, 2001: Amtr RV6A, Comfort, TX, Substantial damage. (.19) On December 9, 2001, at 1430 central standard time, a heard RV-6A, experimental airplane, N61AZ, sustained substantial damage following a hard landing at… 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.