GAA19CA351

NTSB accident investigation · Vans Vans Acft RV 6 · Culpepper, VA · June 14, 2019

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 14, 2019, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
Place
Culpepper, VA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N696SHVans Vans Acft RV 6
Defining event
Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 3, 2020
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20190614008879A
Case key
99654

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a ground loop.

Findings · 4

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedRiley James L VANS ACFT RV-6: 1 caseAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Wind: crosswindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationRiley James L VANS ACFT RV-6: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,008 casesProbable cause
Wind: gustsEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationRiley James L VANS ACFT RV-6: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,199 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered a wind gust, so she added more aileron input to counteract it, but the "gust died down." The airplane then fishtailed, so she attempted to abort the takeoff by reducing power and applying brakes, but the airplane veered right. Despite applying brakes to stop the veer, the left wing settled to the ground, and the airplane came to a stop at the side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing aft spar and engine mounts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the takeoff roll, she added more aileron input to counteract a wind gust but just as quickly, the "crosswind died off." The airplane fishtailed so she aborted the takeoff and applied brakes, but the airplane veered right and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing aft spar and engine mounts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 5 minutes prior to the accident, the wind was from 310° at 9 knots, gusting 17 knots. The airplane departed on runway 04.

Aircraft

Registration
N696SH
Reported as
Vans Vans Acft RV 6 (Undesignat)
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
22755
Built
2004
Airframe hours
1,032.9
Engine
Lycoming IO-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Condition · February 9, 2019
Departed
CJR · Culpepper, VA
Destination
CJR · Culpepper, VA
Airport
CJR · Culpeper Rgnl, runway 04, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
43
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
April 27, 2018
Seat
Left
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
4,358 total · 184 in this make and model · 2,935 as pilot in command · 93 in the last 90 days · 33 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
310° at 9 knots, gusting 17
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
73 °F, dew point 41 °F
Altimeter
30.11 inHg
Observed at
KCJR

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 19, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 32.5 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.