# NTSB WPR12LA174: Willerton Vans RV6A, N6000Z, Sequim, WA, April 10, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 10, 2012, 13:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Sequim, WA - Coordinates: 48.124721, -123.20417 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1247&lon=-123.2042&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 83429 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83429/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83429 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA174 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Willerton Hazen Dennis VANS RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=056100U), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03020000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Willerton Hazen Dennis VANS RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03020000/cases.md?model=056100U), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03020000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Willerton Hazen Dennis VANS RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=056100U), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Willerton Hazen Dennis VANS RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=056100U), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the climbing phase of the flight, both he and the flight instructor observed fuel leaking from the right wing fuel cap. The pilot made a precautionary landing at a nearby airport. During landing, the airplane landed hard and the propeller struck the ground, substantially damaging the airplane firewall. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the stopper-type fuel cap was locked; however, it was not properly secured in the filler port of the fuel tank. Yet, this would not have affected the landing. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. ## Factual narrative On April 10, 2012, about 1315 Pacific daylight time, a Willerton Vans RV-6A, N6000Z, sustained substantial damage to the firewall during a precautionary landing at Blue Ribbon Airport (WN29), Sequim, Washington. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and private pilot were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the private pilot. The local instructional flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Sequim Valley Airport (W28), Sequim, Washington at 1300. The private pilot reported that while climbing through about 4,000 feet, both the CFI and he observed fuel leaking from the right wing fuel cap. They initiated a precautionary landing to WN29. After a normal approach, the airplane struck the runway hard causing the propeller to strike the ground. Subsequently, the airplane’s firewall was substantially damaged. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. Post-accident examination of the aircraft was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. The stopper type fuel cap was found locked; however, the fuel cap was loose and not properly secured within the filler port. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6000Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6000Z), registered now, S/N 24142, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WILLERTON VANS RV6A - Registry model: [Willerton Hazen Dennis VANS RV6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/willerton-hazen-dennis-vans-rv6a) (registry code 056100U) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 24142 - Airframe hours: 216 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Kenneth Brown - Registered owner: Kenneth Brown - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Condition, June 29, 2011, 15 hours before - Departed: W28, Sequim, WA - Destination: W28, Sequim, WA - Airport: WN29, Blue Ribbon Airport, runway 07, 2,360 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 75; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 15, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 27,000 total, 22,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 6, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 547 total, 0 in this make and model, 506 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.75 inHg - Observed at: CLM, 12 nm away ## 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 20120410006319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120410006319A), Apr 10, 2012: Willerton Hazen Dennis VANS RV6A, Sequim, WA, Substantial damage. This flight originated as an instructional & bi-annual checkride and had departed the Sequim valley airport @ 1320 PDT. The pilot stated the aircraft was at… ## Other investigations on N6000Z (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR22FA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA067), Dec 22, 2021: Vans RV6 (N6000Z), Show Low, AZ, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack following an aborted landing approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control at an altitude too low for recovery. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 31, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83429. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370817&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation-FAA (item 2, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372360&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-FAA-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.