# NTSB GAA17CA028: Newkirk Thomas Ray Vans RV 6, N164N, Garland, NC, October 12, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 12, 2016, 12:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Garland, NC - Coordinates: 34.801387, -78.381385 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8014&lon=-78.3814&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report January 18, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94237 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94237/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94237 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA028 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing on the grass runway. ## 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: [Newkirk Thomas Ray VANS RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05612Z8), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Newkirk Thomas Ray VANS RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05612Z8), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Newkirk Thomas Ray VANS RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=05612Z8), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Newkirk Thomas Ray VANS RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05612Z8), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Newkirk Thomas Ray VANS RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05612Z8), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Newkirk Thomas Ray VANS RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05612Z8), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Newkirk Thomas Ray VANS RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05612Z8), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during landing at his private grass runway, the airplane "skipped" during the initial landing touchdown. Subsequently, as the airplane settled back to the runway, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot further reported that the grass was "soft." The vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that the nose gear failed during the landing. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI) who spoke with the pilot postaccident, the pilot reported to him that the airplane bounced during the landing touchdown and when the airplane settled back to the runway, the nose gear had been damaged and further sunk into the grass runway. A photo provided by the FAA ASI showed an initial impact mark about 100 feet prior to the location where the airplane nosed over. It is likely that the nose gear was damaged during the initial touchdown. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during landing at his private grass runway, the airplane "skipped" during the initial landing touchdown. Subsequently, as the airplane settled back to the runway, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot further reported that the grass was "soft." The vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that the nose gear failed during the landing. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI) who spoke with the pilot postaccident, the pilot reported to him that the airplane bounced during the landing touchdown and when the airplane settled back to the runway, the nose gear had been damaged and further sunk into the grass runway. A photo provided by the FAA ASI showed an initial impact mark about 100 feet prior to the location where the airplane nosed over. It is likely that the nose gear was damaged during the initial touchdown. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N164N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N164N), registered now, S/N 25564, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NEWKIRK THOMAS RAY VANS RV 6 (A) - Registry model: [Newkirk Thomas Ray VANS RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/newkirk-thomas-ray-vans-rv-6a) (registry code 05612Z8) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (registry code 41594, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 25564 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 525 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 12, 2015 - Departed: AQX, ALLENDALE, SC - Destination: Garland, NC - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: minor; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 23, 2015; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,828.8 total, 525 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KCPC, 30 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 20161012020039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161012020039A), Oct 12, 2016: Newkirk Thomas Ray VANS RV-6A, Garland, NC, Substantial damage. Owner of the aircraft was landing his RV6 on his private grass strip, Newkirk Field. Markings on the runway show that the aircraft bounced and on the second or… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 1, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94237. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 388 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446949&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (FAA Inspector) (item 2, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446950&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(FAA%20Inspector)-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot) (item 3, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446951&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 4, .PDF, 4 photos, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446952&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.