# NTSB WPR13LA093: Kaufmann Vans RV-10, N104BK, Las Vegas, NV, December 31, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 31, 2012, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.210556, -115.194442 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2106&lon=-115.1944&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86039 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA093 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86039/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86039 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA093 ## Probable cause A missing elevator control assembly attachment bolt, which rendered the elevator control system ineffective and resulted in a loss of pitch control, and the pilot’s incorrect installation of the elevator control assembly. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: elevator control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Kaufmann Robert J VANS RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md?model=05631BL), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md) - [Maintenance: installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Kaufmann Robert J VANS RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md?model=05631BL), [All aircraft, 371 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Kaufmann Robert J VANS RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=05631BL), [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. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Kaufmann Robert J VANS RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=05631BL), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Kaufmann Robert J VANS RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05631BL), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Kaufmann Robert J VANS RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05631BL), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot, who was also the owner and builder of the airplane, reported that, while on short final, he lost elevator control and was unable to control the airplane's pitch. The pilot continued the landing, but he was unable to flare the airplane, which resulted in a hard landing. The airplane bounced once and then came back down on its nose. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the attachment bolt for the elevator control assembly was missing. The airplane manufacturer's maintenance instructions called for two washers and an elastic stop nut to secure the elevator assembly attachment bolt. It is likely that the pilot did not properly install or secure the hardware used to attach the bolt, which allowed it to release in flight and rendered the elevator control system ineffective and led to the subsequent loss of pitch control. The airplane had accumulated a total time of 48 hours. ## Factual narrative On December 31, 2012, at 1230 Pacific standard time, an experimental Kaufmann Vans RV-10, N104BK, experienced a loss of elevator control on short final, and the airplane subsequently landed hard on runway 30L at the North Las Vegas Airport (VGT), Las Vegas, Nevada. The pilot/owner/builder operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal cross-country flight. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The flight departed from the Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO), Reno, Nevada, about 1030, with an intended destination of VGT. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan had been filed; however, the pilot was using flight following.According to the pilot, the airplane was in Phase II of his Operating Limitations; the airplane had approximately 48 hours total time. The pilot reported that on short final, he lost elevator control, but still had aileron control. The pilot was unable to flare the airplane for landing, which landed hard, bounced once back into the air, and then it came back down on its nose. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that the attachment bolt for the elevator assembly was missing. Vans aircraft maintenance instructions calls for two washers and an elastic stop nut to secure the elevator assembly attachment bolt. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N104BK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N104BK), registered now, S/N 40125, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KAUFMANN VANS RV-10 - Registry model: [Kaufmann Robert J VANS RV-10](https://openairdocs.org/model/kaufmann-robert-j-vans-rv-10) (registry code 05631BL) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-C4B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-c4b5) (registry code 41651, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 40125 - Airframe hours: 0 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert Kaufmann - Registered owner: Robert Kaufmann - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 17, 2012, 0 hours before - Departed: RNO, Reno, NV - Destination: VGT, Las Vegas, NV - Airport: VGT, North Las Vegas Airport, runway 30L, 5,001 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 11, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 5,384 total, 100 in this make and model, 2,380 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: VGT ## 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 20121231028439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121231028439A), Dec 31, 2012: Kaufmann Robert J VANS RV-10, North Las Vegas, NV, Minor damage. On short final to runway 30L at the North Las Vegas airport, N104BK experienced a hard landing due to the loss of continuity in the elevator flight control… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86039. 706 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 314 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431798&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Passenger Statement (item 2, .PDF, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431799&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FPassenger%20Statement%20-Redacted.PDF - FAA Statement (item 3, .PDF, 223 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431800&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Statement-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.