# NTSB WPR10CA151: Tarantola Leonard RV-6A, N164LT, Onalaska, WA, March 5, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 5, 2010, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Onalaska, WA - Coordinates: 46.569168, -122.618331 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5692&lon=-122.6183&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 1, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75450 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75450/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75450 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA151 ## Probable cause The pilot's bounced landing on a soft turf runway, resulting in a collapsed nose landing gear. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Tarantola Leonard RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=05623TG), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified; cases with it: [Tarantola Leonard RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05623TG), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Tarantola Leonard RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05623TG), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Tarantola Leonard RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05623TG), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Tarantola Leonard RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05623TG), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was landing the airplane at a privately-owned grass airstrip. He stated that the airplane bounced on landing and that during the rollout the nosewheel "clogged" with dirt, dug into the soft dirt, then collapsed rearward. The airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was landing the airplane at a privately-owned grass airstrip. He stated that the airplane bounced on landing, and during the roll out, the nose wheel "clogged" with dirt and the nose gear dug into the soft dirt then collapsed rearward. The airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N164LT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N164LT), registered now, S/N 21633, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TARANTOLA LEONARD RV-6A - Registry model: [Tarantola Leonard RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/tarantola-leonard-rv-6a) (registry code 05623TG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 21633 - Airframe hours: 1042 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Decker Richard A - Registered owner: Decker Richard A - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 15, 2009 - Departed: KCLS, Chehalis, WA - Destination: PVT, Onalaska, WA - Airport: PVT, Onalaska - Private, runway 27, 1,100 × 30 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,557 total, 341 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20100305028559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100305028559A), Mar 5, 2010: Tarantola L RV-6A, Onalaska, WA, Substantial damage. Upon landing at private strip nose wheel sank in mud and aircraft flipped over. ## Other investigations on N164LT (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR09CA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA080), Nov 24, 2008: Tarantola RV6A (N164LT), Onalaska, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to land with a tailwind, which resulted in the runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was the tailwind. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 25, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75450. 319 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 319 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327423&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.