# NTSB LAX95LA197: Bölkow Phoebus C, N1379, Helendale, CA, May 20, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 20, 1995, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Helendale, CA - Coordinates: 34.740734, -117.350868 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7407&lon=-117.3509&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29105 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA197 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29105/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA197 ## Probable cause the pilot's selection of a downwind landing and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point. Factors in the accident were the inaccurate wind information provided by his ground crew which led the pilot to select the improper landing direction, and, the loose sandy nature of the landing site which inhibited the effectiveness of the glider brakes. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - weather condition - tailwind - wind information - inaccurate, ground personnel (contributing factor) - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - loose gravel/sandy (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (cause) ## Analysis DURING A LONG CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE REQUIRED LIFT TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE PILOT SELECTED A SUITABLE OFF-AIRPORT FIELD TO LAND. HIS GROUND CREW REPORTED WINDS FROM THE SOUTH AT 5 KNOTS AND UPSLOPING TERRAIN TOWARD THE NORTH. THE PILOT CHOSE TO LAND DOWNWIND IN AN UPHILL DIRECTION. THE WINDS WERE STRONGER THAN THE GROUND CREW INDICATED AND THE GLIDER LANDED LONG. THE PILOT SAID BRAKING ACTION WAS POOR DUE TO THE LOOSE SAND ON A HARD SOIL BASE. BEFORE THE PILOT COULD STOP THE GLIDER, IT SLID INTO A DRY WASH AND COLLIDED WITH A DIRT WALL. THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT HE OBSERVED THE WINDS FROM 180 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS WITH HIGHER GUSTS TO 13 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. ## Factual narrative On May 20, 1995, at 1530 hours Pacific daylight time, a Bolcow Phoebus C glider, N1379, collided with a desert dry wash during the ground run of a forced landing near Helendale, California. The glider was being operated by the pilot/owner as a personal flight. The glider was substantially damaged. The certificated private pilot was not injured. The flight originated at Crystal Airport in Llano, California, at 1215 hours for a cross-country toward Las Vegas, Nevada. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. In his written report, the pilot stated that "near Helendale, the required lift was not available" for continued flight and he was forced to land. Initially, the pilot intended to land at the Palisades private airport; however, his ground crew reported that the gate was locked. He then selected a suitable off-airport field adjacent to the airstrip. The pilot stated that the ground crew informed him the winds were "at 180 degrees at 5 knots." The selected field slopes uphill to the north, so the pilot chose a north downwind landing uphill. The pilot said the glider touched down beyond his intended touchdown point due to a stronger than reported tail wind. Braking action was poor during the landing roll due to the sandy, hard soil of the field. The glider overran the selected area, and rolled downhill into a wash at 20 mph. The pilot attempted to ground loop the glider to prevent entering the wash; however, the glider slid into the wash wing first. The pilot stated that after the accident he observed the winds from 180 degrees at 10 knots with higher gusts to 13 knots. The pilot reported no mechanical failures of the flight controls. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1379](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1379-2012-10-11), registration cancelled 2012-10-11, S/N 843, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bölkow PHOEBUS C - Registry model: [Bolkow PHOEBUS C](https://openairdocs.org/model/bolkow-phoebus-c) (registry code 1403014) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 843 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Evensen, Lawrence P. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: L01, LLANO, CA - Destination: LAS VEGAS, NV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; private; seat: center; flight hours: 56 total, 9 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots, gusting 13 - Visibility: 100 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °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 19950520013829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950520013829A), May 20, 1995: Entwic PHOEBUSC, Helendale, CA, Substantial damage. Ran out of lift on cross country. Landed uphill downwind. Overshot landing area. Ground crew adivsed wrong wind. 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.