# NTSB GAA17CA073: Carter Richard L Buddy Baby Lakes, N1028Q, Hurricane, UT, November 10, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 10, 2016, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Hurricane, UT - Coordinates: 37.1375, -113.306945 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1375&lon=-113.3069&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 18, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94409 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94409/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94409 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA073 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, 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: [Carter Richard L BUDDY BABY LAKES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05620IE), [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: [Carter Richard L BUDDY BABY LAKES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05620IE), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: recent experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Carter Richard L BUDDY BABY LAKES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035/cases.md?model=05620IE), [All aircraft, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Carter Richard L BUDDY BABY LAKES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=05620IE), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Carter Richard L BUDDY BABY LAKES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05620IE), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Carter Richard L BUDDY BABY LAKES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05620IE), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Carter Richard L BUDDY BABY LAKES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05620IE), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped biplane reported that during the takeoff sequence of a touch-and-go landing he decided to try a 2-point takeoff. He further reported that he was aware of the left turning tendency when raising the tail, however the "left turning factor happened much faster than [he] anticipated"; he was unable to recover with full right rudder inputs and the biplane veered to the left off the runway. During the runway excursion, the pilot brought the throttle to idle and the biplane impacted tumbleweeds. The biplane sustained substantial damage to both right wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-3B (2016), contains a section titled "Normal Takeoff Roll" for tailwheel airplanes which states: It is important to note that nose-down pitch movement produces left yaw, the result of gyroscopic precession created by the propeller. The amount of force created by this precession is directly related to the rate the propeller axis is tilted when the tail is raised, so it is best to avoid an abrupt pitch change. Whether smooth or abrupt, the need to react to this yaw with rudder inputs emphasizes the increased directional demands common to tailwheel airplanes, a demand likely to be unanticipated by pilots transitioning from nosewheel models. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel equipped biplane reported that during the takeoff sequence of a touch-and-go landing he decided to try a 2-point takeoff. He further reported that he was aware of the left turning tendency when raising the tail, however the "left turning factor happened much faster than [he] anticipated"; he was unable to recover with full right rudder inputs and the biplane veered to the left off the runway. During the runway excursion, the pilot brought the throttle to idle and the biplane impacted tumbleweeds. The biplane sustained substantial damage to both right wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-3B (2016), contains a section titled "Normal Takeoff Roll" for tailwheel airplanes which states: It is important to note that nose-down pitch movement produces left yaw, the result of gyroscopic precession created by the propeller. The amount of force created by this precession is directly related to the rate the propeller axis is tilted when the tail is raised, so it is best to avoid an abrupt pitch change. Whether smooth or abrupt, the need to react to this yaw with rudder inputs emphasizes the increased directional demands common to tailwheel airplanes, a demand likely to be unanticipated by pilots transitioning from nosewheel models. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1028Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1028Q), registered now, S/N 1001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CARTER RICHARD L BUDDY BABY LAKES (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Carter Richard L BUDDY BABY LAKES](https://openairdocs.org/model/carter-richard-l-buddy-baby-lakes) (registry code 05620IE) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1001 - Year built: 2006 - Engines: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 1L8, Hurricane, UT - Destination: 1L8, Hurricane, UT - Airport: 1L8, General Dick Stout Field, runway 01, 3,282 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 18, 2015; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,169 total, 4 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KSGU, 14 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 20161110022499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161110022499A), Nov 10, 2016: Carter Richard L BUDDY BABY LAKES, Hurricane, UT, Substantial damage. The pilot reported that as he landed on rny 01 he initially intended to make a full stop landing but decided to do a touch and go instead. Then he decided that… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 8, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94409. 928 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 552 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447206&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447207&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Provider Unknown) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 252 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447208&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Provider%20Unknown)-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.