# NTSB NYC08CA328: Hood Junior Ace, N1012S, Ashville, AL, September 30, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 30, 2008, 17:37 local (22:37 UTC) - Place: Ashville, AL - Coordinates: 33.787223, -86.308052 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7872&lon=-86.3081&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 69049 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA328 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69049/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA328 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare while landing. Contributing to the accident was the airplane's lack of yaw control as reported by the pilot. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Hood Lewis R JUNIOR ACE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=05611ZS), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hood Lewis R JUNIOR ACE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=05611ZS), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Hood Lewis R JUNIOR ACE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=05611ZS), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Hood Lewis R JUNIOR ACE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05611ZS), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Hood Lewis R JUNIOR ACE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05611ZS), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Hood Lewis R JUNIOR ACE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05611ZS), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Hood Lewis R JUNIOR ACE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05611ZS), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Hood Lewis R JUNIOR ACE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05611ZS), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Hood Lewis R JUNIOR ACE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05611ZS), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the amateur-built Junior Ace stated that the purpose of the personal flight was to fly in the local area for about 1 hour. The airplane was equipped with one centrally-mounted control stick, a two-place bench seat, and two sets of rudder pedals. About 20 minutes into the flight, the pilot turned the airplane to the left. When he attempted to turn to the right, the airplane yawed "uncontrollably" to the left. The pilot said he applied more right rudder in an attempt to control the left yaw, but the yaw increased. The pilot reported that he could not stop the yawing motion. He stated that, "it felt like the airplane was stalling and about to spin." A witness stated that the airplane’s wings rocked back and forth in a smooth, slow rocking motion. The pilot attempted to land in a field, and "flared high" above the ground. The airplane impacted the ground, and nosed over. The right main landing gear, right wing rear strut, and firewall were damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane prior to the flight. He also stated that for this flight, he sat in the center of the bench seat, straddled the control stick, and was utilizing the "outboard rudder pedals." Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed all flight controls moved free, correct and had full travel. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the amateur-built Junior Ace stated that the purpose of the personal flight was to fly in the local area for about one hour. The airplane was equipped with one centrally-mounted control stick, a two-place bench seat, and two sets of rudder pedals. About 20 minutes into the flight, the pilot turned the airplane to the left. When he attempted to turn to the right, the airplane yawed "uncontrollably" to the left. The pilot said he applied more right rudder in an attempt to control the left yaw, but the yaw increased. The pilot reported that he could not stop the yawing motion. He stated that, "it felt like the airplane was stalling and about to spin." A witness stated that the airplane's wings rocked back and forth in a smooth, slow, rocking motion. The pilot attempted to land in a field, and "flared high" above the ground. The airplane impacted the ground and nosed over. The right main landing gear, right wing rear strut, and firewall were damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane prior to the flight. He also stated that for this flight he sat in the center of the bench seat, straddled the control stick, and was using the "outboard rudder pedals." Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed all flight controls moved freely and had full travel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1012S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1012S-2012-01-25), registration cancelled 2012-01-25, S/N RH3, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hood Junior Ace - Registry model: [Hood Lewis R JUNIOR ACE](https://openairdocs.org/model/hood-lewis-r-junior-ace) (registry code 05611ZS) (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: RH3 - Airframe hours: 73.7 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2008, 3.3 hours before - Departed: 3AL6, Branchville, AL - Destination: 3AL6, Brranchville, AL - Airport: 3AL6, Town and Country Airpark ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, unknown; last flight review March 3, 2008; seat: center; flight hours: 490 total, 74 in this make and model, 438 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: BHM, 31 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 20080930855289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080930855289A), Sep 30, 2008: Hood JUNIORACE, Ashville, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 30, 2008, at approximately 1730 CDT, [privacy data omitted] was flying his airplane, a junior ace, N1012S, serial number RH3, over Ashville,… 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.