# NTSB GAA17CA003: Andrew Harold Stol CH 701, N768HA, Berryton, KS, October 2, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 2, 2016, 15:55 local (20:55 UTC)
- Place: Berryton, KS
- Coordinates: 38.985279, -95.597221 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9853&lon=-95.5972&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94136
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA003
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94136/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94136
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA003

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## 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: [Andrew Harold STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056142I), [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: [Andrew Harold STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056142I), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Andrew Harold STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=056142I), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Andrew Harold STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=056142I), [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: [Andrew Harold STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=056142I), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Andrew Harold STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056142I), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Andrew Harold STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056142I), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Andrew Harold STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056142I), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing on a grass runway at his private property, he "crabbed for the [cross] wind but did not neutralize the rudder pedals soon enough." He further reported that when the airplane touched down, the airplane veered off the runway to the right and the nose wheel collapsed in soft mud. During the runway excursion, the right wing impacted terrain and was substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observing system about the time of the accident, 5 nautical miles north of the accident site, recorded the wind at 160 degrees true at 4 knots. The pilot reported that he landed in a northeast direction.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing on a grass runway at his private property, he "crabbed for the [cross] wind but did not neutralize the rudder pedals soon enough." He further reported that when the airplane touched down, the airplane veered off the runway to the right and the nose wheel collapsed in soft mud. During the runway excursion, the right wing impacted terrain and was substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observing system about the time of the accident, 5 nautical miles north of the accident site, recorded the wind at 160 degrees true at 4 knots. The pilot reported that he landed in a northeast direction.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N768HA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N768HA), registered now, S/N 4768 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ANDREW HAROLD STOL CH 701 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Andrew Harold STOL CH 701](https://openairdocs.org/model/andrew-harold-stol-ch-701) (registry code 056142I) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 4768
- Year built: 2008
- Airframe hours: 387.7
- Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 24, 2016
- Departed: NONE, Berryton, KS
- Destination: NONE, Berryton, KS
- Airport: NONE, Private, runway NE, 1,000 × 35 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; flight hours: 500 total, 320 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KFOE, 5 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 20161002024379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161002024379A), Oct 2, 2016: Andrew Harold STOL CH 701, Berryton, KS, Substantial damage. During the landing and touchdown phase at the airman's private grass runway, the airman failed to center the nose gear on touch down during a cross-wind…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 29, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94136. 749 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 255 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459001&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446804&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 439 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446805&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.

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