GAA20CA048

NTSB accident investigation · Beech A36 · Le Roy, NY · October 27, 2019

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
October 27, 2019, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC)
Place
Le Roy, NY
Injuries
4 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N9008VBeech A36
Defining event
Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 21, 2020
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20191027018939A
Case key
100500

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 improper pitch control during takeoff in high, gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a runway overrun and the nose landing gear collapsing.

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.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotBeech A36: 43 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: pitch controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedBeech A36: 1 caseAll aircraft: 526 casesProbable cause
Wind: high windEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationBeech A36: 1 caseAll aircraft: 112 casesProbable cause
Wind: gustsEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationBeech A36: 4 casesAll 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, before the takeoff roll, he had increased the trim because the tail felt like it was "lifting ahead of the nose when not heavily loaded in the rear." During the takeoff roll, while about 73 knots and 1,800 ft down the runway, the airplane lifted off. The airplane was still in ground effect, and the pilot applied forward yoke pressure to increase the airspeed. He recalled checking the gauges, and all appeared within normal limits. The airplane descended to the runway about 74 knots and bounced. The airplane overran the runway, and the pilot pushed forward on the yoke to level the airplane, but the airplane encountered a wind gust from the left and touched down in the grass about 155 ft beyond the end of the runway. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane stopped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts, the elevator, and both wings. 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 reported that prior to the takeoff roll, he had increased the airplane's trim because, "the tail fells like it is lifting ahead of the nose when not heavily loaded in the rear." During the takeoff roll, about 73 knots and 1,800 ft down the runway the airplane ascended. The airplane was still in ground effect, and the pilot applied forward yoke pressure to increase the airplane's airspeed. About 1,000ft further, he noticed that the airspeed was 75 knots. He recalled checking the gauges and all appeared within normal limits. The airplane descended to the runway about 74 knots airspeed and bounced. The airplane overran the runway and he pushed forward on the yoke to level the airplane, but the airplane encountered a wind gust from the left and touched down in the grass about 155ft beyond the end of the runway. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane stopped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts, elevator and both wings. According to the nearest METAR located 14 miles northeast of the accident site, about the time of the accident, the wind was reported as being from 260° at 17 knots and gusting to 30 knots. The pilot took off from runway 28. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N9008V
Reported as
Beech A36
Category
Airplane
Serial number
E-185
Built
1969
Airframe hours
7,666
Engine
Continental IO-520, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Public use
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · December 8, 2018
Departed
5G0 · Le Roy, NY
Destination
IUA · Canandiauga, NY
Airport
5G0 · Le Roy, runway 28, 3,854 × 60 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Unknown

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
48
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
September 15, 2016
Seat
Left
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
285 total · 115 in this make and model · 183 as pilot in command · 11.8 in the last 90 days · 8.6 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
260° at 17 knots, gusting 30
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
2,900 ft broken
Temperature
59 °F, dew point 48 °F
Altimeter
29.70 inHg
Observed at
KROC, 14 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 24, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.1 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.