# NTSB LAX01LA146: Arthur Lee Beer ALB Special, N117V, Santa Rosa, CA, April 14, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 14, 2001, 11:14 local (18:14 UTC)
- Place: Santa Rosa, CA
- Coordinates: 38.50056, -122.760391 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5006&lon=-122.7604&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 28, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FLT STNDS DIST OFFICE
- NTSB case key (mKey): 52103
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA146
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52103/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA146

## Probable cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during landing roll.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

The pilot reported he lost directional control of the amateur built aircraft during landing.  The airplane veered to the left and then to the right before ground looping and nosing over.  He reported there were no mechanical malfunctions.

## Factual narrative

On April 14, 2001, at 1114 hours Pacific daylight time, an experimental Beer ALB Special, N117V, was substantially damaged when the amateur built aircraft veered to the left and then to the right before nosing over during the landing roll at Sonoma County airport, Santa Rosa, California.  The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  The local area personal flight was operated by the owner under 14 CFR Part 91 and departed about 1030.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported he lost directional control on landing, ground looped, and nosed over.  He reported there were no mechanical malfunctions.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N117V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N117V-2017-04-13), registration cancelled 2017-04-13, S/N 1, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Arthur Lee Beer ALB Special
- Registry model: [Beer Arthur Lee A L B SPECIAL](https://openairdocs.org/model/beer-arthur-lee-a-l-b-special) (registry code 05630BW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Subaru ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 59050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1
- Airframe hours: 67
- Engines: Subaru 2.2L 135 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Doug A. Dugger
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 24, 2001, 4 hours before
- Departed: STS, Santa Rosa, CA
- Airport: STS, Sonoma County, runway 14, 5,115 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 10, 1998; seat: left; flight hours: 685 total, 4 in this make and model, 640 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: STS

## 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 20010414040019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010414040019A), Apr 14, 2001: Amtr ALBSPECIAL, Santa Rosa, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 14, 2001, at 1114 pacific daylight time, an experimental beer alb special, N117V, was substantially damaged when the amateur built aircraft…

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.

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