# NTSB GAA19CA436: Grosch Starduster TOO, N2RG, Lincoln, CA, June 28, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 28, 2019, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Lincoln, CA - Coordinates: 38.908611, -121.351112 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9086&lon=-121.3511&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99884 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA436 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99884/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99884 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA436 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing, subsequent loss of directional control, runway excursion, and ground-loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grosch STARDUSTER TOO SA-30, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=8660154), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grosch STARDUSTER TOO SA-30, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8660154), [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: [Grosch STARDUSTER TOO SA-30, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8660154), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Grosch STARDUSTER TOO SA-30, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8660154), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Grosch STARDUSTER TOO SA-30, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=8660154), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Grosch STARDUSTER TOO SA-30, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=8660154), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the third landing that day, the biplane landed hard and veered off the left side of the runway. The airplane ground looped, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The pilot added that he thought the tailwheel was swiveling but not turning with the rudder. While working on repairs, he observed that the shear pins on the tailwheel had sheared off. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower right wing. The airplane was not made available to the National Transportation Safety Board for examination, so the reason for the anomaly reported by the pilot could not be determined. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during the third landing, the biplane landed hard and veered off the left side of the runway. The airplane ground looped and the left main landing gear collapsed. He added that he thought the tailwheel was swiveling, but not turning with the rudder. While working on repairs, he observed that the shear pins on the "Mollie heavy duty tailwheel" sheared off, which resulted in the tailwheel not working properly. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower right wing. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 8 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 200° at 3 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 15. The airplane was not made available to the Federal Aviation Administration or the National Transportation Safety Board for examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2RG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2RG), registered now, S/N 563, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GROSCH STARDUSTER TOO (SA-30) - Registry model: [Grosch STARDUSTER TOO SA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/grosch-starduster-too-sa-30) (registry code 8660154) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-series) (registry code 42389, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 563 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 99 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Destination: LHM, Lincoln, CA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: LHM, Lincoln Rgnl/Karl Harder Field, runway 15, 6,001 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 87; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KLHM ## 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 20190628008389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190628008389A), Jun 28, 2019: Grosch STARDUSTER TOO SA-30, Lincoln, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft touched down on rwy 15 and lost control while rolling out. A/c departed runway to the right into the dirt and experienced significant side loads,… ## Other investigations on N2RG (1) 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. - [NTSB GAA16CA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA010), Oct 4, 2015: Grosch Starduster TOO SA 30 (N2RG), Lincoln, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a ground loop, left main landing gear collapse, and the left wing striking the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 24, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99884. 463 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 175 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476174&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476175&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 220 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476176&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.