# NTSB WPR10LA457: Myers THORP-18, N330JH, Jerome, ID, September 10, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 10, 2010, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Jerome, ID
- Coordinates: 42.726665, -114.456665
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7267&lon=-114.4567&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Boise FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 77269
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA457
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77269/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77269
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA457

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusty crosswinds.

## 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: [Myers Floyd THORP-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05602GC), [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: [Myers Floyd THORP-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05602GC), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Myers Floyd THORP-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05602GC), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Myers Floyd THORP-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05602GC), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Myers Floyd THORP-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=05602GC), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/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); cases with it: [Myers Floyd THORP-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05602GC), [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: [Myers Floyd THORP-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05602GC), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Myers Floyd THORP-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05602GC), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported he was landing his tail wheel-equipped airplane in almost direct crosswinds that were 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots. Soon after touchdown, he lost directional control. The airplane subsequently departed the side of the runway, and entered an area of grass covered soft terrain. As the airplane continued a left turn in the soft terrain, the right main landing gear collapsed inward due to an overload failure. The right wing contacted the surface and was substantially damaged. The pilot further stated the he did not believe there had been any anomalies associated with the airplane's flight control or tail wheel steering systems.

## Factual narrative

On September 10, 2010, about 1545 mountain daylight time, an experimental Meyers Thorp T-18, N330JH, experienced a collapse of one main landing gear during the landing roll at Jerome County Airport, Jerome, Idaho. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured, but the airplane, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal cross-county flight, which departed La Grande, Oregon, about 1330 Pacific daylight time, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, he was landing in an almost direct crosswind of 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots. Almost immediately after the airplane touched down, it veered hard right and then hard left, before departing the side of the runway and entering a soft grassy area. After entering the grassy area, while still in a left turn, the right main landing gear collapsed inward, allowing the airplane's wing to impact the terrain. According to the pilot, who did not detect any evidence of preexisting corrosion or cracking at the location of the gear strut fracture, "… the right gear leg collapsed due to side load stresses put on it due to crosswind landing." The pilot further stated that he did not believe there had been any anomalies associated with the airplane's flight control or tail wheel steering systems.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N330JH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N330JH), registered now, S/N 1058, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MYERS THORP-18
- Registry model: [Myers Floyd THORP-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/myers-floyd-thorp-18) (registry code 05602GC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-290-D2](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-290-d2) (registry code 42090, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1058
- Airframe hours: 135
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D2 140 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hoover Jerrald J
- Registered owner: Hoover Jerrald J
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 2010
- Departed: KGND, La Grande, OR
- Destination: KJER, Jerome, ID
- Airport: KJER, Jerome County, runway 27, 5,000 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 18, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 500 total, 200 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 20100910045609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100910045609A), Sep 10, 2010: Myers Floyd THORP-18, Jerome, ID, Substantial damage. During landing rollout, right main gear collapsed, causing damage to propeller and significant damage to the right wing.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 17, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77269. 743 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 743 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339796&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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