# NTSB WPR10CA428: Holmgreen John B RV8A, N525JH, Carlsbad, CA, August 1, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 1, 2010, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Carlsbad, CA - Coordinates: 33.123611, -117.274719 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1236&lon=-117.2747&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 7, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77085 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA428 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77085/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77085 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA428 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate pretakeoff checks and failure to maintain control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s diverted attention due to the open canopy. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Holmgreen John B RV8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05619C9), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Holmgreen John B RV8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05619C9), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Holmgreen John B RV8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=05619C9), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Holmgreen John B RV8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=05619C9), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Holmgreen John B RV8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05619C9), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Holmgreen John B RV8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05619C9), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, at the time of rotation, the canopy started to slide rearward. As the pilot attempted to close the canopy the airplane nosed over and the propeller struck the runway, substantially damaging the airplane’s firewall. The pilot further reported that the accident could have been prevented by conducting a “second check of proper canopy closure prior to entering [the] runway.” The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll at the time of rotation, the canopy started to slide rearward. As the pilot attempted to close the canopy, the airplane nosed over and the propeller struck the runway substantially damaging the airplane’s firewall. The pilot further reported that the accident could have been prevented by conducting a “second check of proper canopy closure prior to entering [the] runway.” The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N525JH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N525JH), registered now, S/N 81824, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HOLMGREEN JOHN B RV8A - Registry model: [Holmgreen John B RV8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/holmgreen-john-b-rv8a) (registry code 05619C9) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 81824 - Airframe hours: 270 - Engines: Superior XP360 A1C2 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dickson Clark - Registered owner: Moller Scott - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 23, 2009, 20 hours before - Departed: CRQ, Carlsbad, CA - Destination: O61, Cameron Park, CA - Airport: CRQ, McClellan - Palomar Airport, runway 24, 4,897 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 28, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 372 total, 108 in this make and model, 274 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: CRQ ## 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 20100801044019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100801044019A), Aug 1, 2010: Holmgreen J RV8A, Crlsbad, CA, Substantial damage. On 8-1-2010 at approximately 1630 hours local time, dickson clark took off from runway 24 at Palomar airport in carlsbad, California. Clark, a private pilot,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 28, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77085. 736 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 692 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336833&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336836&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Director of Maintenance (item 3, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337025&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Director%20of%20Maintenance-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.