# NTSB WPR11LA280: Inhofe/ Davis Vans RV-8, N4546Y, Sheridan, WY, June 22, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 22, 2011, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Sheridan, WY
- Coordinates: 44.769165, -106.980278 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7692&lon=-106.9803&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: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 8, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 80867
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA280
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80867/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80867
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA280

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate directional control during the landing roll.

## 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: [Inhofe James M / Davis Jim VANS RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05614MA), [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: [Inhofe James M / Davis Jim VANS RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05614MA), [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Inhofe James M / Davis Jim VANS RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05614MA), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane checked the weather prior to landing and noted a light right crosswind. He performed an uneventful approach with an extended downwind segment. He selected full flaps and performed a slip maneuver during the final approach. Just after the main landing gear made contact with the runway, the airplane began to drift to the left. He countered with successively harder right rudder pedal inputs, and the airplane began to swerve to the right. The airplane veered across the runway and into the grass beside the runway. As the tailwheel touched the ground, the pilot applied left rudder pedal pressure, and the airplane veered left, reentered the runway, and came to rest on a heading almost opposite the landing direction. Postaccident examination revealed evidence, including damage to the outer rim of the right wheel and the fuselage at the right landing gear attach point, indicative of excessive side loading during landing.

## Factual narrative

On June 22, 2011, about 1730 mountain daylight time, an Inhofe/Davis (Van's Aircraft) RV-8, N4546Y, departed the runway during landing at Sheridan County Airport, Sheridan, Wyoming. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The tailwheel-equipped airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country flight departed South Grand Lake Regional Airport, Ketchum, Oklahoma, about 1215 central daylight time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that prior to landing on runway 050 he checked the Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS), which reported light winds from 030 degrees magnetic. He performed an uneventful left downwind approach, with an extended downwind segment. He then selected full flaps, and performed a slip maneuver during the final approach. Just after the main landing gear made contact with the runway, the airplane began to drift to the left. He countered with light application of the right rudder pedal, with unsuccessful results. He then applied increasing right rudder pedal pressure and the airplane began to swerve to the right. The airplane veered across the runway, and onto the opposite verge. As the tailwheel touched the ground, he applied left pedal pressure and the airplane rejoined the runway, coming to rest on a heading of 270 degrees. Examination of the airplane revealed scuff marks on the outer rim of the right wheel, and structural damage to the right side of the fuselage at the intersection of the wing root.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4546Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4546Y), registered now, S/N 81168, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: INHOFE/ DAVIS VANS RV-8
- Registry model: [Inhofe James M / Davis Jim VANS RV-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/inhofe-james-m-davis-jim-vans-rv-8) (registry code 05614MA) (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: 81168
- Airframe hours: 350
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, October 7, 2010, 40 hours before
- Departed: 1K8, Ketchum, OK
- Destination: SHR, Sheridan, WY
- Airport: SHR, Sheridan County, runway 05, 5,039 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 10, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 1,235 total, 280 in this make and model, 975 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: SHR

## 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 20110622011699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110622011699A), Jun 22, 2011: Inhofe James M / Davis Jim VANS RV-8, Sheridan, WY, Substantial damage. On June 22, 2011 at approximately 1730 LCL N4546Y, a vans RV-8, sustained substantial damage upon landing at Sheridan, WY. The pilot and one (1) passenger…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80867. 4.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359378&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 - Right Wing Root and Main Landing Gear (item 2, .PDF, 348 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359379&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Right%20Wing%20Root%20and%20Main%20Landing%20Gear-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Right Wing Root (item 3, .PDF, 271 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359380&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Right%20Wing%20Root-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 - Right Wheel Outer Rim (item 4, .PDF, 339 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359381&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Right%20Wheel%20Outer%20Rim-Master.PDF
- Photo 4 – Tailwheel (item 5, .PDF, 348 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359382&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20%E2%80%93%20Tailwheel-Master.PDF
- Photo 5 - Right Main Landing Gear Leg Stub and Bracket (item 6, .PDF, 313 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362982&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20Right%20Main%20Landing%20Gear%20Leg%20Stub%20and%20Bracket-Master.PDF
- Correspondence With Pilot And Vans Aircraft Regarding Right Main Landing Gear (item 7, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362986&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20With%20Pilot%20And%20Vans%20Aircraft%20Regarding%20Right%20Main%20Landing%20Gear-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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