# NTSB WPR10LA160: Migas RV9-A, N951DM, Twin Falls, ID, March 15, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 15, 2010, 11:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place: Twin Falls, ID
- Coordinates: 42.481945, -114.487777 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4819&lon=-114.4878&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 7, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75513
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA160
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75513/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75513
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA160

## Probable cause

The pilot's loss of directional control during landing roll for an undetermined reason.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Migas Richard M RV9-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05618OR), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Migas Richard M RV9-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05618OR), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Migas Richard M RV9-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05618OR), [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: [Migas Richard M RV9-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05618OR), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Migas Richard M RV9-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05618OR), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

In near calm wind conditions, the pilot reported that after he made a normal traffic pattern approach and touchdown his airplane veered "sharply left," and he was unable to redirect the airplane's course back toward the runway using right rudder and right brake. The airplane departed the left side of the runway while rolling between 25 and 30 miles per hour. Thereafter, it rolled onto an open soft dirt field adjacent to the runway's edge, the nose gear dug into the dirt, and the airplane came to rest upside down. The pilot had recent flying experience in the airplane and was current. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the accident site and airplane. He reported observing evidence on the runway of nose gear shimmy. Also, he reported observing evidence that the nose gear created a furrow in the soft dirt consistent with the nose gear wheel being canted sideways before breaking in an aft direction. No mechanical malfunction or anomalies were found with the airplane's flight controls, landing gear system, or brakes. Physical evidence related to the pilot’s loss of directional/steering control was not found. The pilot indicated that he does not know why the airplane's nose gear canted/twisted sideways and precluded him from maintaining directional control during rollout.

## Factual narrative

On March 15, 2010, about 1120 mountain daylight time, a Migas RV9-A, N951DM, owned and operated by the pilot, nosed over during landing rollout at the Joslin Field-Magic Valley Regional Airport (TWF), Twin Falls, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The amateur built experimental airplane was substantially damaged, and the airline transport pilot was seriously injured. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated from Kennewick, Washington, about an hour earlier. The pilot reported that his traffic pattern approach and touchdown on runway 25 at TWF were normal. Runway 25 is 8,703 feet long and 150 feet wide. The wind was from about 250 degrees at 3 knots, and the runway was dry. According to the pilot, after touchdown the airplane veered "sharply left," and he was unable to redirect the airplane's course back toward the runway using right rudder and right brake. The airplane departed off the left side of the runway while rolling between 25 and 30 miles per hour. The airplane rolled onto an open soft dirt field adjacent to the runway's edge, the nose gear dug into the dirt, and the airplane came to rest upside down. The pilot subsequently examined the airplane. He noted that none of its tires were flat. The nose gear assembly was broken and collapsed. The main wheel brakes were not found locked up. The pilot reported that he had experience landing on grass airstrips as well as concrete runways, and he has no idea why the airplane uncontrollably veered left during rollout. The former airline pilot holds a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) repairman experimental aircraft builder certificate for his airplane. The pilot also holds an FAA flight engineer certificate and type ratings in four models of Boeing turbojet airplanes. He has over 16,400 flight hours, including 143 hours in the accident airplane of which 32 hours were acquired during the preceding 90 days. The FAA coordinator responded to the accident scene. He reported observing evidence on the runway of nose gear shimmy. The nose gear created a furrow in the soft dirt before breaking in an aft direction. During the FAA coordinator's subsequent interview with the pilot, he reported that no evidence of any control malfunction was detected by the pilot during his flight. The pilot indicated that he normally touches down about 65 knots, and he normally keeps the nose wheel off the ground until slowing to about 40 knots. The pilot reported that the airplane has excellent rudder control at speeds as low as 35 knots. Regarding the accident, the pilot indicated that he does not understand why his airplane veered left or why its nose gear twisted sideways and precluded him from maintaining control during rollout. An FAA certificated aircraft mechanic also examined the airplane. He reported to the FAA coordinator that no mechanical malfunction oranomalies were found with the airplane's flight controls, landing gear, or brakes. No physical evidence related to the pilot’s loss of directional or steering control was found.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N951DM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N951DM), registered now, S/N 90558, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MIGAS RV9-A
- Registry model: [Migas Richard M RV9-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/migas-richard-m-rv9-a) (registry code 05618OR) (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: 90558
- Airframe hours: 142
- Engines: Aero Sport 320 D2A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: S98, Kennewick, WA
- Destination: TWF, Twin Falls, ID
- Airport: TWF, Joslin Field-Magic Valley Reg., runway 25, 8,703 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 16, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 16,450 total, 143 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.45 inHg
- Observed at: TWF

## 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 20100315030129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100315030129A), Mar 15, 2010: Migas Richa RV9-A, Twin Falls, ID, Substantial damage. After landing at 65 knots, during rollout and approximately when nosewheel touched down, pilot stated the aircraft veered sharply to the left, departing the…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75513. 510 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 510 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336834&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.

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