# NTSB LAX96LA033: Russell KR-2, N14MR, Adelanto, CA, October 29, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 29, 1995, 12:35 local (20:35 UTC) - Place: Adelanto, CA - Coordinates: 34.659729, -117.509254 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6597&lon=-117.5093&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 21, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29328 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29328/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA033 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudgement of the height above touchdown and his premature flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## 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) - Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS MAKING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS AND SAID THAT ON HIS LAST APPROACH HE CAME IN A LITTLE FAST. HE FLARED AT ABOUT 5 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED ON TOUCHDOWN. HE RECOVERED FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING BUT WHEN HE TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN, THE MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE RUNWAY AND THEN SLID OFF THE LEFT SIDE. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE SHEAR BOLTS HOLDING THE MAIN GEAR DOWN LOCKS HAD SEPARATED. ## Factual narrative On October 29, 1995, at 1235 hours Pacific standard time, an experimental Russell, KR-2, N14MR, collided with the runway while landing at Southern California International Airport, Adelanto, California. The aircraft sustained substantial damage; however, the private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight by the pilot/owner when the accident occurred. The flight originated in Adelanto at 1200. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated that he had been in the traffic pattern making touch-and-go landings on runway 21. On his last approach he said he was "a little fast" and flared at about 5 feet above the runway and then bounced when the aircraft touched down. He recovered from the bounced landing and landed. During the second touchdown the main gear collapsed and the aircraft impacted the runway. According to a witness, the aircraft took off on runway 21 and remained in the traffic pattern. The aircraft touched down about midfield, at which time the main gear collapsed and the aircraft slid off the left side of the runway. An FAA airworthiness inspector reported that the aircraft sustained damage to the main wings, propeller, carburetor and air box, engine cowling, and main gear shear joints. The inspection revealed that the shear bolts holding the main gear down locks had separated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N14MR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14MR-2013-09-20), registration cancelled 2013-09-20, S/N 7709 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RUSSELL KR-2 - Registry model: [Russell Charles Marvin KR-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/russell-charles-marvin-kr-2) (registry code 056481L) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 7709 - Airframe hours: 4 - Engines: Volkswagen 1835 CC 60 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Carl Vance Hedberg - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 7, 1995, 4 hours before - Departed: VCV - Airport: VCV, Southern California Intl, runway 21, 9,136 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 132 total, 3 in this make and model, 42 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: EDW, 38 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 19951029034979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951029034979A), Oct 29, 1995: Amtr KR2, Victorville, CA, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised on hard landing. Collapsed main gear. Shear bolts on main gear had separated. Overstressed. 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.