# NTSB WPR10CA178: Hardie James D KIT FOX XL, N42JH, Willows, CA, March 24, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 24, 2010, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Willows, CA
- Coordinates: 39.515556, -122.217224 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5156&lon=-122.2172&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: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75581
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA178
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75581/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75581
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA178

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper flare, resulting in a bounced landing and ground loop.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Hardie James D KIT FOX XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05624Z8), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hardie James D KIT FOX XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05624Z8), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hardie James D KIT FOX XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05624Z8), [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: [Hardie James D KIT FOX XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05624Z8), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Hardie James D KIT FOX XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05624Z8), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Hardie James D KIT FOX XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05624Z8), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during landing he flared too high, resulting in a bounced landing. During his attempted recovery, the airplane swerved to the right and ground-looped, coming to rest in the grass adjacent to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during landing he flared too high resulting in a bounced landing. During his attempted recovery, the airplane swerved to the right and ground looped, coming to rest in the grass adjacent to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N42JH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42JH-2012-08-29), registration cancelled 2012-08-29, S/N JCX014, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HARDIE JAMES D KIT FOX XL
- Registry model: [Hardie James D KIT FOX XL](https://openairdocs.org/model/hardie-james-d-kit-fox-xl) (registry code 05624Z8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: JCX014
- Airframe hours: 218
- Engines: BOMBARDIER ROTAX (ALL) 50 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 17, 2009
- Departed: CA92, Paradise, CA
- Destination: WLW, Willows, CA
- Airport: WLW, Willows-Glenn County Airport, runway 31, 3,788 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review June 19, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 694 total, 20 in this make and model, 647 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: CIC, 24 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 20100324029929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100324029929A), Mar 24, 2010: Hardie Jame KIT FOX XL, Substantial damage. Flew from paradise airport to Willows glenn airport. During landing flared aircraft too high which resulted in a bounced landing. As the aircraft bounced he…

## Other investigations on N42JH (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 FTW96LA372](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA372), Aug 30, 1996: Hardie KIT FOX XL (N42JH), Monticello, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75581. 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=40328830&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.