# NTSB WPR13LA174: Vans RV12, N572LS, Waldport, OR, March 30, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 30, 2013, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Waldport, OR - Coordinates: 44.384445, -124.084999 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3844&lon=-124.0850&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 11, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86557 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86557/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86557 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA174 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## 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: [Vans RV-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=0690009), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Vans RV-12, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0690009), [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-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Vans RV-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=0690009), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Vans RV-12, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=0690009), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Vans RV-12, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=0690009), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) ## Analysis During landing on a turf runway, the nosewheel landing gear separated. An examination of the runway surface revealed impact marks consistent with a hard landing in an almost-level attitude. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Downloaded nonvolatile memory indicated that the airplane's initial touchdown was flat or slightly negative, which resulted in the nose landing gear contacting the runway surface before the main landing gear. The data also indicated that the landing occurred at a high rate of speed and that the pilot did not attempt to flare the airplane during the landing. ## Factual narrative On March 30, 2013 about 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Van's Aircraft, RV-12, light sport airplane, N572LS, was substantially damaged during landing roll at the Wakonda Beach State Airport (R33), Waldport, Oregon. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The flight originated from Lenhardt Airpark (7S9), Hubbard, Oregon at 1045 with an intended destination of R33. In a written statement the pilot reported that he was conducting a landing to a full stop. During landing, as the nose wheel contacted the grass runway surface, it tucked under the airplane and separated. The airplane came to a stop on the runway leaving a long groove in the runway surface. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed that the propeller and the nose landing gear assembly were damaged. The lower forward fuselage area sustained substantial damage. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector documented and photographed the runway surface. Three impact marks were visible and found consistent with the nose and main landing gears impacting the ground nearly at the same time. Three discolored indentations continued from the impact marks for about 15-feet. The center positioned indentation had gouging in the runway surface and sharp parallel grooves that continued for about 140-feet. The three impact marks originated beyond the mid-field point of the runway. The nose landing gear fork assembly was shipped to Van's Aircraft Company for further examination. According to a representative from Van's Aircraft Company, no evidence of any preimpact anomalies was present. Data from a FlightDEK-D180 electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) unit, mounted onboard the accident airplane, was downloaded for review. The data indicated that during the initial touchdown, the airplane was in a flat or slightly negative pitch attitude which would result in the nose landing gear contacting the runway first. The data indicated that the airplane landed at a high rate of speed. Representatives from Van's Aircraft Company reported that the data also indicated that there were no attempts to flare the airplane during the landing. For further information see the examination report in the public docket. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N572LS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N572LS), registered now, S/N 120083, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS RV12 (120083) - Registry model: [Vans RV-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/vans-rv-12) (registry code 0690009) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 120083 - Year built: 2010 - Airframe hours: 277 - Engines: 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Levonte Yakis - Registered owner: Levonte Yakis - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special); Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 7, 2012, 12 hours before - Departed: 7S9, Lenhardt Airprk, OR - Destination: R33, Waldport, OR - Airport: R33, Wakonda Beach State Airport, runway 34, 2,000 × 30 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2013; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 400 total, 274 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Observed at: ONP, 11 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 20130330004269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130330004269A), Mar 30, 2013: Vans Aircraft Inc RV-12, Waldport, OR, Substantial damage. Nose gear fork failed on landing causing nose landing gear collapse and prop strike. Nose gear design on this aircraft is a non-steerable full castering type.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86557. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412624&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Report - Wakonda Beach State Airport (Photos) (item 2, .PDF, 11 photos, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412625&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Report%20-%20Wakonda%20Beach%20State%20Airport%20(Photos)-Master.PDF - Vans Aircraft Examination Report (item 3, .PDF, 8 photos, 466 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412626&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Vans%20Aircraft%20Examination%20Report-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.