NYC08CA166

NTSB accident investigation · Wim J Huisman Velocity 173 Fixed · Ocala, FL · April 12, 2008

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 12, 2008, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC)
Place
Ocala, FL
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N127DHWim J Huisman Velocity 173 Fixed
Defining event
Landing: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 28, 2008
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA/FSDO
FAA report
20080412836219A
Case key
67905

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing. Contributing to the accident was the wind gusts.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Wind: gustsEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specifiedAll aircraft: 1,199 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Airport facilities/designEnvironmental issues › Operating environment · Not specifiedAll aircraft: 52 cases

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

After landing on runway 18, the airplane rolled out for a few feet when the right wing "abruptly raised." The pilot tried to correct with right aileron input and applied full power to execute a go-around. The airplane went off the side of the runway and all three landing gear wheels were still on the ground. The pilot elected to continue the go-around and the airplane continued to roll along the ground as the pilot waited for it to reach the rotation speed of 65 knots. He did not however, see a drainage gully. The nose gear impacted the gully, the main landing gear impacted a second gully and was sheared off, and the airplane came to rest in a grassy area on the airport surface. The airplane was substantially damaged having received damage to its nose, canard, fuselage, landing gear, propeller, flight control surfaces, and wings. Runway 18 was 7,550 feet long, 210 feet wide, and consisted of asphalt. The reported wind at an airport located approximatley 8 miles southwest of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 230 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 19 knots.

Factual narrative

During approach and landing at his home airport, the pilot of an amateur built Velocity 173 Fixed, experienced wind gusts to 19 knots. After "turning final" for runway 18, at an airspeed of approximately 85 knots, the pilot lowered the airplane's speed brake. The airplane then crossed the runway threshold about 80 knots. The pilot reported that the approach had been normal and he "had a slight crab into the wind" to correct for drift, and had applied rudder to align the airplane with the runway. After touchdown the airplane rolled out for a few feet when the right wing "abruptly raised." The pilot tried to correct with right aileron input and applied full power to execute a go-around. The airplane went off the side of the runway and all three landing gear wheels were still on the ground. The pilot elected to continue the go-around and the airplane continued to roll along the ground as the pilot waited for it to reach the rotation speed of 65 knots. He did not however, see a drainage gully. The nose gear impacted the gully, the main landing gear impacted a second gully and was sheared off, and the airplane came to rest in a grassy area on the airport surface. The airplane was substantially damaged having received damage to its nose, canard, fuselage, landing gear, propeller, flight control surfaces, and wings. Runway 18 was 7,550 feet long, 210 feet wide, and consisted of asphalt. The reported wind at an airport located approximatley 8 miles southwest of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 230 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 19 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N127DH
Reported as
Wim J Huisman Velocity 173 Fixed
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
DMO 291
Airframe hours
937
Engine
Lycoming IO-360 C1D6, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Condition · July 1, 2007
Departed
X60 · Williston, FL
Destination
17FL · Ocala, FL
Airport
17FL · Greystone Airport, runway 18, 7,550 × 210 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
55
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
August 1, 2006
Seat
Left
Flight hours
674 total · 40 in this make and model · 572 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
230° at 13 knots, gusting 19
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 63 °F
Altimeter
29.96 inHg
Observed at
OCF, 8 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.