# NTSB GAA16CA379: Jesse Saint/Troy Townsend/Etha CH-801, N801G, Beaumont, KS, July 16, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 16, 2016, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Beaumont, KS - Coordinates: 37.659168, -96.527778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6592&lon=-96.5278&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 12, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93624 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA379 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93624/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93624 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA379 ## Probable cause The pilot's incorrect pitch control during the landing flare in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a hard bounced landing and a nose over. ## 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: [Jesse Saint/Troy Townsend/Etha CH-801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056325A), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Jesse Saint/Troy Townsend/Etha CH-801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=056325A), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Jesse Saint/Troy Townsend/Etha CH-801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=056325A), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Jesse Saint/Troy Townsend/Etha CH-801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=056325A), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Jesse Saint/Troy Townsend/Etha CH-801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=056325A), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Jesse Saint/Troy Townsend/Etha CH-801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=056325A), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Jesse Saint/Troy Townsend/Etha CH-801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=056325A), [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-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Jesse Saint/Troy Townsend/Etha CH-801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=056325A), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Jesse Saint/Troy Townsend/Etha CH-801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=056325A), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Jesse Saint/Troy Townsend/Etha CH-801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=056325A), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Jesse Saint/Troy Townsend/Etha CH-801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056325A), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Jesse Saint/Troy Townsend/Etha CH-801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056325A), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of an experimental amateur-built airplane reported that during the landing flare he encountered a wind shift and gust that resulted in a direct crosswind. The pilot further reported that he applied additional rudder to compensate for the wind shift, but the airspeed decayed and the airplane bounced hard on the grass runway. After the bounce, the pilot reported that he continued to apply left rudder to compensate for the wind, but the airplane would not respond. Subsequently, the airplane touched down in a crab configuration, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The vertical stabilizer, firewall, and right wing sustained substantial damage. During a postaccident examination, the pilot reported that the nose landing gear "support bungee" had failed and the nose landing gear strut jammed upward during the hard landing. He further reported that oil residue was found on the inner strands of the bungee. The pilot reported that this bungee had been in service for 21 months with 195 hours and about 400 landings on the part. According to the airplane kit manufacturer, the rudder should still be controllable, even with a failed bungee. However, the manufacturer further reported that if the nose landing gear strut were to become stuck or lodged into place due to a hard landing, the rudder would also become stuck and uncontrollable. The airplane kit manufacturer does not publish service life limitations for bungees. Because the pilot reported not having rudder authority after the first touchdown, it is likely that the nose landing gear support bungee failed during the first hard touchdown, which resulted in the nose landing gear becoming jammed upward at the upper strut limit resulting in the loss of rudder authority. ## Factual narrative The pilot of an experimental amateur-built airplane reported that during the landing flare he encountered a wind shift and gust that resulted in a direct crosswind. The pilot further reported that he applied additional rudder to compensate for the wind shift, but the airspeed decayed and the airplane bounced hard on the grass runway. After the bounce, the pilot reported that he continued to apply left rudder to compensate for the wind, but the airplane would not respond. Subsequently, the airplane touched down in a crab configuration, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The vertical stabilizer, firewall, and right wing sustained substantial damage. During a postaccident examination, the pilot reported that the nose landing gear "support bungee" had failed and the nose landing gear strut jammed upward during the hard landing. He further reported that oil residue was found on the inner strands of the bungee. The pilot reported that this bungee had been in service for 21 months with 195 hours and about 400 landings on the part. According to the airplane kit manufacturer, the rudder should still be controllable, even with a failed bungee. However, the manufacturer further reported that if the nose landing gear strut were to become stuck or lodged into place due to a hard landing, the rudder would also become stuck and uncontrollable. The airplane kit manufacturer does not publish service life limitations for bungees. Because the pilot reported not having rudder authority after the first touchdown, it is likely that the nose landing gear support bungee failed during the first hard touchdown, which resulted in the nose landing gear becoming jammed upward at the upper strut limit resulting in the loss of rudder authority. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N801G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N801G-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 8-7059, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JESSE SAINT/TROY TOWNSEND/ETHA CH-801 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Jesse Saint/Troy Townsend/Etha CH-801](https://openairdocs.org/model/jesse-saint-troy-townsend-etha-ch-801) (registry code 056325A) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-D1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-d1a) (registry code 41839, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 8-7059 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 195.6 - Engines: Superior XP-360 170 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 5, 2015 - Departed: NONE, Wichita, KS - Destination: 07S, BEAUMONT, KS - Airport: 07S, Beaumont Hotel, runway 18, 2,400 × 80 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 28, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,202 total, 159 in this make and model, 2,040 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KEQA, 15 nm away ## 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 20160716011089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160716011089A), Jul 16, 2016: Jesse Saint/Troy Townsend/Etha CH-801, Beaumont, KS, Substantial damage. On July 16, 2016, the airman, while acting as pilot-in-command of an experimental zenith model CH-801, was involved in an aircraft accident while landing at… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 24, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93624. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443660&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Voluntary Pilot Statement KS State Police (item 2, .PDF, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443661&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Voluntary%20Pilot%20Statement%20KS%20State%20Police-Master.PDF - Accident Summary Report from Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 660 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443662&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Summary%20Report%20from%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Zenith Aircraft) (item 4, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443663&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Zenith%20Aircraft)-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA and Operator) (item 5, .PDF, 3 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443664&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA%20and%20Operator)-Master.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.