# NTSB WPR11CA353: Sloan Roger D Vans RV7A, N742RJ, Sheridan, WY, July 29, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 29, 2011, 10:10 local (16:10 UTC) - Place: Sheridan, WY - Coordinates: 44.791389, -106.953613 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7914&lon=-106.9536&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81285 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA353 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81285/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81285 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA353 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff due to cockpit distractions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that when the airplane lifted off he became distracted by his headset's noise canceling control and suddenly the nose wheel of the airplane hit the ground hard. The pilot immediately pulled back on the controls and initiated a climb to assess the damage. After 15 minutes of flight, the emergency crew on the ground assessed that the nose gear was bent and the pilot prepared for an emergency landing. The pilot opted to land on the grass and as he set the airplane down on the surface the front gear leg collapsed and the airplane tilted up on its propeller before falling back down onto its main gear and substantially damaging the rudder. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that when the airplane lifted off he became distracted by his headsets noise canceling control and suddenly the nose wheel of the airplane hit the ground hard. The pilot immediately pulled back on the controls and took the airplane up to assess the damage. After 15 minutes of flight the emergency crew on the ground assessed that the nose gear was bent and the pilot prepared for an emergency landing. The pilot opted to land on the grass and as he set the airplane down on the surface the front gear leg gave away and the airplane tilted up on its propeller before falling back down onto its main gear and substantially damaging the rudder. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N742RJ (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: SLOAN ROGER D VANS RV7A - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 71582 - Airframe hours: 474 - Engines: AMA/EXPR Subaru 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sloan Roger D - Registered owner: Sloan Roger D - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 2, 2011, 26 hours before - Departed: KSHR, Sheridan, WY - Destination: 3U2, Yellow Pine, ID - Airport: KSHR, Sheridan, runway 14, 8,300 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 28, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 1,756 total, 436 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KSHR ## 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 20110729016399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110729016399A), Jul 29, 2011: Sloan Roger D VANS RV7A, Sheridan, WY, Substantial damage. On 07/29/2011 at approx 0900 LCL N742RJ, a vans RV7A, was substantially damaged while landing at Sheridan, WY. Two persons on board, no injuries. VMC… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 19, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81285. 533 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 504 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352613&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Damage to the rudder stiffener. Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352614&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Damage%20to%20the%20rudder%20stiffener.%20Pilot-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.