# NTSB WPR13LA364: Commonwealth 185, N67045, Burlington, WA, August 8, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 2013, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Burlington, WA - Coordinates: 48.470275, -122.421669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4703&lon=-122.4217&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 12, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Seattle FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87714 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA364 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87714/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87714 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA364 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate control inputs during a crosswind landing, which resulted in a hard landing and loss of directional control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Commonwealth 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=2370608), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Commonwealth 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2370608), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Commonwealth 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2370608), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Commonwealth 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2370608), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: [Commonwealth 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2370608), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Commonwealth 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2370608), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Commonwealth 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2370608), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Commonwealth 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2370608), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was landing in a 6-knot, 40-degree crosswind at the conclusion of a local flight. The pilot stated that, during the landing roll, a wind gust picked up the left wing, which lifted the left main wheel off the ground. The left main wheel then touched down hard, and the airplane swerved aggressively to the left. The airplane departed the asphalt surface and nosed over when it contacted the adjacent grass. During postaccident repair of the airplane, a mechanic reported that an interior footwell panel had dislodged and caught on the left rudder bar, inhibiting movement of the pedals. If the panel had been dislodged before the flight, it should have been observed both during a preflight inspection and during the flight. As the pilot did not report any resistance in the pedals before the landing, it is likely that the panel became dislodged as a result of the hard landing, which prevented the pilot from regaining directional control. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 2013, about 1300 Pacific daylight time, a Commonwealth 185 Skyranger, N67045, nosed over during landing at Skagit Airport, Burlington, Washington. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the tail and wings. The local personal flight departed Burlington about 1200. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.The pilot reported that he made a three-point landing on runway 29. During the landing roll, a wind gust picked up the left wing, which lifted the left main wheel off the ground. The left main wheel then touched down hard, and the airplane swerved aggressively to the left. The airplane departed the asphalt surface, and nosed over when it contacted the adjacent grass. Photos provided by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector indicated that there was only one skid mark on the runway from the right wheel that led into the grass on the left side of the runway. The left wheel mark first appeared in the grass, and continued to the overturned airplane. During repair of the airplane, a mechanic reported that the left hand interior Naugahyde covering was glued to a panel. One rudder bar caught on it bending it 90 degrees, and jamming the left rudder at 3/4 deflection. The mechanic stated that the panel would not need to be removed during an annual inspection. However, he said that it was significant enough that a mechanic would notice the discrepancy during the inspection, and a pilot would notice it on a preflight. He also indicated that it would have interfered with the controls during flight. A weather report for the time of the accident indicated that the wind was from 240 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot reported a total time of 98 hours with 7 in make/model. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N67045](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N67045), registered now, S/N 1769 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: COMMONWEALTH 185 - Registry model: [Commonwealth 185](https://openairdocs.org/model/commonwealth-185) (registry code 2370608) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1769 - Airframe hours: 651 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 14, 2013 - Departed: BVS, Burlington, WA - Destination: BVS, Burlington, WA - Airport: BVS, Skagit Airport, runway 29, 5,478 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2013; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 98 total, 7 in this make and model, 52 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KBVS ## 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 20130808014829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130808014829A), Aug 8, 2013: Commonwealth 185, Burlington, WA, Minor damage. Pilot stated a gust of wind caught the left wing on landing causing the a/c toraise up onto right tire and veer off the runway to the left. A/c went into the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 28, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87714. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 405 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442704&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - ROC Mechanic (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442705&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=ROC%20Mechanic-Master.PDF - FAA Photos (item 3, .PDF, 931 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442706&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Photos-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.