# NTSB SEA02LA120: Welborn Pulsar XP, N777XP, Prineville, OR, July 4, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 4, 2002, 08:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Prineville, OR - Coordinates: 44.287223, -120.905281 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2872&lon=-120.9053&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Hillsboro FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55156 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55156/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55156 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA120 ## Probable cause The disconnection of the throttle cable on landing resulting in the aircraft's engine going to full throttle and the pilot's subsequent failure to maintain directional control after securing the engine during the landing event. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - flare/touchdown - throttle/power lever,cable - disconnected (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Complete gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot of the homebuilt Welborn Pulsar XP reported that upon arrival at the Prineville airport he conducted a successful touch and go to runway 28. During the second landing the throttle cable disconnected and the throttle went to full power. The aircraft bounced back into the air and then returned to the runway surface, and the pilot then shut the engine down as the aircraft began veering left. The pilot was unable to prevent the aircraft from departing the runway at which time all three landing gear collapsed. Local winds were reported as 020 degrees at 5 knots. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 2002, approximately 0845 Pacific daylight time, a homebuilt Welborn Pulsar XP, N777XP, registered to and being flown by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during landing at the Prineville airport, Prineville, Oregon. The pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was operated under 14 CFR 91, and originated from a non-airspaced landing site approximately eight miles southeast of Prineville approximately 0830. The pilot reported that he departed the landing site en route to Prineville to practice landings at the Prineville airport. Upon arrival he conducted his first landing successfully. The pilot reported that during the second landing on runway 28 the throttle "came off in his hand," the engine went to full power, and the aircraft bounced back into the air and then returned to the runway surface. The pilot then shut the engine down as the aircraft began veering left and all three landing gear collapsed as the aircraft departed the runway. The aviation surface weather observation for Redmond airport 11 nautical miles southwest of Prineville near the time of the accident was reporting the wind as coming from 020 degrees magnetic at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N777XP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N777XP-2013-08-22), registration cancelled 2013-08-22, S/N 372, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Welborn Pulsar XP - Registry model: [Welborn Harold L PULSAR XP](https://openairdocs.org/model/welborn-harold-l-pulsar-xp) (registry code 05602DA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 372 - Airframe hours: 395 - Engines: Rotax 912 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Welborn, Harold L. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2002, 1 hours before - Departed: Prineville, OR - Destination: S39, Prineville, OR - Airport: S39, Prineville, runway 28, 5,000 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 17, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 447 total, 377 in this make and model, 447 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: RDM, 11 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 20020704015739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020704015739A), Jul 4, 2002: Amtr PULSARXP, Prineville, OR, No damage. (-23) On July 4, 2002, around 0845, N777XP veered off the left side of runway 28 during landing at Prineville, OR. The aircraft went into some soft dirt… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 11, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55156. 363 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 363 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460448&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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.