# NTSB GAA18CA459: Herzog CCX-2000, N116PM, Bend, OR, July 31, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 31, 2018, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Bend, OR - Coordinates: 44.094444, -121.200279 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0944&lon=-121.2003&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 June 5, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97959 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA459 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97959/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97959 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA459 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and the subsequent collapse of the left main landing gear when he attempted to steer the airplane back onto the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Herzog CCX-2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05637LW), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Herzog CCX-2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=05637LW), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Herzog CCX-2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05637LW), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Herzog CCX-2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05637LW), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Herzog CCX-2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05637LW), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped, experimental, amateur-built airplane reported that, during the landing roll at his home airport, the left main landing gear (MLG) wheel exited the asphalt runway and entered gravel that bordered the runway. The pilot applied right rudder to steer the airplane back onto the runway, but at the point where the left MLG tire contacted the asphalt runway, the left MLG collapsed. The left wing struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar and aileron. The pilot reported that the left MLG shock absorber shaft had sheared off at the lock nut attached to the rod end, which he believed resulted in the left MLG collapsing. However, photographs provided by Federal Aviation Administration air safety inspectors revealed that the left MLG failed inward and underneath the fuselage of the airplane. Additionally, the photographs revealed ground scars on the asphalt runway from the left wing that could be traced from the runway centerline, about 90° back to that of the runway heading. Further, photographs revealed that the airplane was equipped with tundra tires, which would have put a lot of stress on the landing gear. The evidence indicates that the left MLG collapsed when the pilot attempted to steer the airplane back onto the runway. The METAR at the airport reported that the wind about the time of the accident was variable at 3 knots, gusting to 12 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 16. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he had taken delivery of a tailwheel-equipped, experimental, amateur-built airplane at his home airport. After a 1-hour flight to return the ferry pilot to his departure airport, the pilot flew 1.2-hours with a flight instructor. After dropping off the instructor, he flew the 1-hour return flight to his home airport. He reported that during the landing roll at his home airport, the left main landing gear wheel exited the asphalt runway and entered gravel that bordered the runway. The pilot applied right rudder to steer the airplane back on to the runway, but the landing gear tire contacted the asphalt runway and the left main landing gear failed. The left wing struck the ground and the airplane came to rest on the runway. The pilot reported the occurrence of a mechanical failure of the left landing gear shock absorber shaft that had sheared off at the lock nut attached to the rod end. However, photographs provided by Federal Aviation Administration Air Safety Inspectors revealed that the left main landing gear failed inward and underneath the fuselage of the airplane. Additionally, the photographs revealed ground scars on the asphalt runway from the left wing that can be traced from the runway centerline, about 90° back to that of the runway heading. Furthermore, photographs revealed that the airplane was equipped with tundra tires. The METAR at the accident airport had reported that the wind about the time of the accident, was variable at 3 knots and gusting to 12 knots. The pilot landed on runway 16. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar and aileron. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N116PM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N116PM), registered now, S/N CCX-2000-0025, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HERZOG AVIATION CCX-2000 - Registry model: [Herzog CCX-2000](https://openairdocs.org/model/herzog-ccx-2000) (registry code 05637LW) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Aerosport CC363I](https://openairdocs.org/engine/aerosport-cc363i) (registry code 01321, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CCX-2000-0025 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 44.6 - Engines: Cub Crafter CC363i 186 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: July 3, 2018 - Departed: BDN, Bend, OR - Destination: BDN, Bend, OR - Airport: BDN, Bend Muni, runway 16, 5,200 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 27, 2017; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,044 total, 4 in this make and model, 2,044 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KBDN ## 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 20180731018469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180731018469A), Jul 31, 2018: Herzog Aviation LLC CCX-2000, Bend, OR, Substantial damage. On Tuesday, July 31, 2018, a Herzog Aviation LLC CCX-2000, registered as N116PM, serial number CCX-2000-0025, was involved in an accident at Bend municipal… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 22, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97959. 7.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 7.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471309&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471310&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.