# NTSB GAA18CA566: Vans RV-14, N823HE, Heber City, UT, September 24, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 24, 2018, 09:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Heber City, UT - Coordinates: 40.481945, -111.428886 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4819&lon=-111.4289&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98344 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA566 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98344/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98344 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA566 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll and his subsequent attempted go-around. ## 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: [Heidorn Kenneth J RV-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05635DI), [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: [Heidorn Kenneth J RV-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05635DI), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Heidorn Kenneth J RV-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=05635DI), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Heidorn Kenneth J RV-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05635DI), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Heidorn Kenneth J RV-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05635DI), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Heidorn Kenneth J RV-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05635DI), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Heidorn Kenneth J RV-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05635DI), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot in the experimental, amateur-built, tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, when the tailwheel touched down, the airplane veered right. He increased the engine power to increase the airflow around the rudder, but the airplane then veered left and exited the left side of the runway. With full throttle applied and full flaps and unaware of the airspeed, the pilot initiated a climb. However, the left main landing gear struck a taxiway sign, and the airplane became airborne. The pilot reduced the throttle to idle, and the airplane touched down on the grass safety area and stopped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left main landing gear attachment points. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot in the experimental amateur-built, tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll, when the tailwheel touched down, the airplane veered to the right. He increased the engine power to increase the airflow around the rudder, but the airplane then veered to the left and exited the left side of the runway. With full throttle applied and full flaps, and unaware of his airspeed, he initiated a climb. However, the left main landing gear struck a taxiway sign, and the airplane became airborne. The pilot reduced the throttle to idle and the airplane touched down on the grass safety area and stopped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left main landing gear attachment points. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N823HE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N823HE), registered now, S/N 140082, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vans RV-14 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Heidorn Kenneth J RV-14](https://openairdocs.org/model/heidorn-kenneth-j-rv-14) (registry code 05635DI) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-390 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-390-series) (registry code 41678, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 140082 - Year built: 2016 - Airframe hours: 138 - Engines: Lycoming YIO 390 EXP10 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 15, 2017 - Departed: HCR, Heber City, UT - Destination: HCR, Heber City, UT - Airport: HCR, Heber City Muni - Russ Mcdonal, runway 22, 6,898 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 16,000 total, 17 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 133 in the last 90 days, 48 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: K36U ## 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 20180924016429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180924016429A), Sep 24, 2018: Heidorn Kenneth J RV-14, Heber, UT, Substantial damage. On 9/24/2018 at 0945 the pilot of N823HE decided to complete a couple touch and goes before continuing his personal flight. Upon the first touchdown, pilot had… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 1, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98344. 5.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472324&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 446 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472325&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.