# NTSB LAX06CA019: Harmel RV6A, N221MH, Oceanside, CA, October 15, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 15, 2005, 13:05 local (20:05 UTC) - Place: Oceanside, CA - Coordinates: 33.217777, -117.351387 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2178&lon=-117.3514&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 62736 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62736/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA019 ## Probable cause the pilot-induced oscillations encountered on landing following the pilot's misjudged landing flare and premature release of elevator backpressure during touchdown. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The airplane porpoised on landing and nosed over after separation of the nose wheel. The pilot said he was on final approach at 70 mph over the runway numbers. He leveled out the airplane for touchdown and believed his main landing gear were on the ground for about 100 yards; however, he was mistaken, and in fact, the airplane had not touched down. He released backpressure on the elevator control believing he was on the ground and the airplane's nose wheel touched down on the runway and the airplane began to porpoise. The pilot attempted to ride out the ensuing oscillations, but they only worsened. The nose wheel broke off and the airplane drifted to the right side of the runway where it exited the paved surface. The nose landing gear strut dug into the dirt and the airplane nosed over. ## Factual narrative On October 15, 2005, at 1305 Pacific daylight time, an amateur-built Harmel RV6A experimental airplane, N221MH, nosed over while landing on runway 24 at Oceanside Municipal Airport, Oceanside, California. The airplane was registered to the pilot, who was also the builder. The private pilot and passenger were not injured; the airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight departed Mesquite, Nevada, at 1030, and was destined for Oceanside. According to the pilot's written statement (provided as part of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report; NTSB Form 6120.1/2), he was on final approach at 70 mph over the runway numbers. He leveled out the airplane for touchdown and believed his main landing gear were on the ground for about 100 yards; however, he was mistaken, and in fact, the airplane had not touched down. He released backpressure on the elevator control believing he was on the ground, and the airplane's nose wheel touched down on the runway and the airplane began to porpoise. The pilot attempted to ride out the ensuing oscillations, but they only worsened. The nose wheel broke off and the airplane drifted to the right side of the runway where it exited the paved surface. The nose landing gear strut dug into the dirt and the airplane nosed over onto its spinner where it teetered for a moment before rolling onto the topside of the fuselage. The pilot and passenger exited the airplane after airport rescue personnel broke the canopy. The airplane sustained structural damage to its fuselage-to-right wing mating area. The pilot added that the accident was simply a case of "pilot-induced-oscillations." Under the section titled "Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented)" in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot indicated he could have maintained backpressure longer during the landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N221MH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N221MH), registered now, S/N 60595, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Harmel RV6A - Registry model: [Vans Acft/Harmel Michael B RV6-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/vans-acft-harmel-michael-b-rv6-a) (registry code 05617K7) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 50595 - Airframe hours: 145 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael B. Harmel - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 1, 2005, 27 hours before - Departed: 67L, Mesquite, NV - Destination: OKB, Oceanside, CA - Airport: OKB, Oceanside Municipal, runway 24, 2,712 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 501 total, 174 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 20051015025369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051015025369A), Oct 15, 2005: Amtr RV6A, Oceanside, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On October 15, 2005, a vans/harmel RV6, N221MH, piloted by [privacy data omitted] was on final approach to runway 24 at Oceanside (okb) airport. Winds… 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.