# NTSB LAX07LA137: Riesland Fly Baby 1, N3124L, Grand Canyon, AZ, April 28, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 27, 2007, 17:30 local (Apr 28, 2007, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Grand Canyon, AZ - Coordinates: 35.9538888888889, -112.133333333333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9539&lon=-112.1333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65716 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07LA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65716/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07LA137 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a fence during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - fence - Nose over, landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot reported that he decided to return to the destination airport after flying for about an hour. After completing a 180-degree turn, the airplane began losing altitude. The pilot reported that the throttle was full-in, and the airplane was maintaining sufficient airspeed; however, the reason for the altitude loss could not be ascertained. The pilot said he then elected to make a precautionary landing in an open field. While on final, the landing gear wheels struck a barbed wire fence, which pulled the wheels up, and the airplane immediately nosed over after touchdown. The pilot reported no mechanical problems that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On April 27, 2007, about 1800 mountain standard time, an experimental Riesland Fly Baby 1, N3124L, collided with a fence during a precautionary landing, subsequently coming to rest inverted in a field 18 miles east of the Grand Canyon National Park Airport (GCN), Grand Canyon, Arizona. The pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage after it struck a fence. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight and no flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot's written statement, his intent was to fly in the area for about an hour. He departed to the south and then turned to the east; this kept the sun out of his eyes. He was over flying an open field when he decided to turn back for the airport. The airplane was at 500 feet above ground level (agl), and he made a 180-degree turn, with a 30-35 degree bank angle. After rolling out of the turn, the airplane began to sink. The pilot stated the throttle was full-in, and the airplane had "plenty of airspeed," but he decided to make a precautionary landing in a field. During the landing, the landing gear wheels clipped a barbed wire fence that he had not seen until he was "right on top of it." The wheels seized up, and after the airplane touched down, it immediately nosed over, structurally damaging the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3124L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3124L-2008-08-05), registration cancelled 2008-08-05, S/N 83-3 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Riesland Fly Baby 1 - Registry model: [Riesland Clark FLY BABY I](https://openairdocs.org/model/riesland-clark-fly-baby-i) (registry code 14101D7) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 83-3 - Airframe hours: 1200 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kyle Gadd - Registered owner: Richard R. Hulse - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2006 - Departed: GCN, Grand Canyon, AZ - Destination: GCN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review January 1, 2007; seat: single; flight hours: 180 total, 50 in this make and model, 150 as pilot in command, 66 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: GCN, 18 nm away ## 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 20070427016679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070427016679A), Apr 27, 2007: Amtr FLYBABY1, Grand Canyon, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 27, 2007, about 1800 mountain standard time, an experimental reisland fly baby 1, N3124L, experienced a loss of engine power and made a forced… 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.