# NTSB LAX94LA142: Weber Q200, N89BW, Las Vegas, NV, February 26, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 26, 1994, 08:02 local (16:02 UTC)
- Place: Las Vegas, NV
- Coordinates: 36.239105, -115.2294 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2391&lon=-115.2294&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 28680
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA142
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28680/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA142

## Probable cause

THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN WAS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - landing gear,tailwheel assembly - failure,total (cause)
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS BEGINNING A LOCAL VFR FLIGHT IN AN EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE.  DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AFTER REACHING 60 KNOTS, THE AIRPLANE'S TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY BROKE.  THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN.

## Factual narrative

On February 26, 1994, at 0802 hours Pacific standard time, an experimental Weber Q200 Quickie airplane, N89BW, exited the left side of runway 07 at North Las Vegas Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada. The pilot was beginning a local visual flight rules personal flight.  The airplane, registered to and operated by Michael Goudeau, Las Vegas, Nevada, sustained substantial damage.  The certificated commercial pilot/certified flight instructor, the sole occupant, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The pilot reported to National Transportation Safety Board investigators in a telephone interview that he was flying the airplane to become familiar with its flight characteristics.  He said that he was going to give the owner flight training in the airplane.  During the takeoff roll, the airplane's tail wheel assembly broke.  The entire assembly is made of fiberglass and does not have any steel tube attachments.

The pilot submitted the required Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, to the Safety Board, Southwest Regional Office.  The pilot reiterated his telephone statement in the report and added that he lost directional control when the airplane reached 60 knots indicated airspeed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N89BW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89BW-2014-12-31), registration cancelled 2014-12-31, S/N 2834 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WEBER Q200
- Registry model: [Weber Barry Q Q200](https://openairdocs.org/model/weber-barry-q-q200) (registry code 05645B8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 0-200-A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-0-200-a) (registry code 54532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 2834
- Airframe hours: 38
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Goudeau, Michael
- Registered owner: Goudeau, Michael
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 1993, 38 hours before
- Airport: VGT, North Las Vegas, runway 7, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,230 total, 8 in this make and model, 1,064 as pilot in command, 86 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19940226005719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940226005719A), Feb 26, 1994: Amtrqk QUICKIE2, Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. Lost control and ground looped on takeoff roll. Fiberglass tail wheel assembly broke.

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.