# NTSB WPR12CA168: Apollo Monsoon, N125AP, Oro Valley, AZ, April 17, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 17, 2012, 10:10 local (17:10 UTC)
- Place: Oro Valley, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.446945, -111.002777 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4469&lon=-111.0028&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 18, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83413
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA168
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83413/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83413
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA168

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to lower the nose landing gear in time to prevent it from slamming onto the runway and collapsing.

## Findings

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

- [Action: incorrect action sequence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing he set the rear two wheels down and tried to hold the nose gear up longer than he previously had. As the trike began to slow, the nose gear slammed onto the runway and collapsed. After the aircraft slid to a stop in the middle of the runway, it tipped over onto its right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing on runway 19 he set the rear two wheels down and tried to hold the nose gear up longer than he previously had. As the trike began to slow the nose gear slammed onto the runway and collapsed. After the aircraft slid to a stop in the middle of the runway it tipped over onto its right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported the wind at the time of the landing was from 200 degrees at 6 to 8 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N125AP (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: APOLLO AIRCRAFT INC MONSOON
- Category: Weight-shift
- Serial number: 00004
- Airframe hours: 24
- Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Macmillan William B
- Registered owner: Macmillan William B
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 2012, 2 hours before
- Departed: 57AZ, Oro Valley, AZ
- Destination: 57AZ, Oro Valley, AZ
- Airport: 57AZ, La Cholla Airpark, runway 01, 4,500 × 44 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; seat: front; flight hours: 81 total, 22 in this make and model, 78 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °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 20120417008629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120417008629A), Apr 17, 2012: Apollo Aircraft Inc MONSOON, Oro Valley, AZ, Substantial damage. During landing and while holding nose wheel up, gust of wind put aircraft into an immediate/unexpected nose down attitued driving nose wheel of aircraft into…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 24, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83413. 8.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 8.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367892&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Interview: Pilot-in-Command (item 2, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367902&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview%3A%20Pilot-in-Command-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.

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