# NTSB WPR17LA098: Robert E Bounds Bounds Bearcoupe, N136BC, Hanksville, UT, May 5, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 5, 2017, 09:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Hanksville, UT - Coordinates: 38.420276, -110.70111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4203&lon=-110.7011&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report September 6, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95119 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR17LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95119/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95119 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA098 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to maintain airplane control during landing when he inadvertently applied brake pressure to the toe brakes when the airplane touched down. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robert E Bounds BOUNDS BEARCOUPE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05632MR), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Robert E Bounds BOUNDS BEARCOUPE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05632MR), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robert E Bounds BOUNDS BEARCOUPE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=05632MR), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Robert E Bounds BOUNDS BEARCOUPE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=05632MR), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Robert E Bounds BOUNDS BEARCOUPE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05632MR), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and private pilot were conducting a personal flight in the tailwheel-equipped, experimental, amateur-built airplane. About 10 minutes before landing, the flight instructor, who had no previous experience flying the airplane, took control of the flight from the pilot and continued flying the airplane to landing. Due to his lack of prior experience flying the airplane, which had foot pedals that were raised off the floor, he inadvertently applied pressure to the toe brakes, which resulted in the airplane nosing over immediately on touchdown. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and wing attachment fittings during the accident. Both the pilot and flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On May 5, 2017, about 0915 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Bounds Bearcoupe, N136BC, nosed-over during landing at Hanksville Airport, Hanksville, Utah. The flight instructor and private pilot were seriously injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to the private pilot, and operated as a personal flight by the instructor at the time of the accident, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed about 0830 from a backcountry airstrip in Utah, known as Hidden Splendor. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.The instructor stated that about 10 minutes before landing, he asked the pilot if he could take control of the airplane and perform the landing. The pilot agreed, and he transitioned control to the instructor. The instructor stated that the airplane was a unique design, with foot pedals that were raised off the floor. He therefore needed to hold his feet in place on the pedals to reach the toe-brakes, rather than rest his heels on the floor as he was accustomed. As such, there was no reference for him to properly gauge the position of his foot during the landing approach. He stated that as soon as the main landing gear touched the ground, the airplane nosed-over, and he realized he had been inadvertently applying brake pressure. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and wing attach fittings during the accident (Photo 1). The airplane was designed and built by the pilot; it was a mid-wing design, and configured with tailwheel-type landing gear. The pilot reported about 296 hours of flight experience in the airplane, and the landing approach was the first time the instructor had flown the airplane. Both the pilot and instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Photo 1: Airplane at Accident Site ## Aircraft - Registration: [N136BC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N136BC), registered now, S/N 01 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBERT E BOUNDS BOUNDS BEARCOUPE (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Robert E Bounds BOUNDS BEARCOUPE](https://openairdocs.org/model/robert-e-bounds-bounds-bearcoupe) (registry code 05632MR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-340-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-340-a1a) (registry code 42192, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 01 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 289 - Engines: Lycoming O-340-A1A 170 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 5, 2016, 20 hours before - Departed: Hidden Splendor, UT - Destination: HVE, Hanksville, UT - Airport: HVE, Hanksville, runway 17, 2,600 × 120 ft, dirt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 74; injuries: serious; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 3, 2016; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 13,500 total, 0.1 in this make and model, 13,500 as pilot in command, 25.3 in the last 90 days, 3.5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 4, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,572 total, 296 in this make and model, 1,572 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 15 knots - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KHVE ## 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 20170505004739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170505004739A), May 5, 2017: Robert E Bounds BOUNDS BEARCOUPE, Hanksville, UT, Substantial damage. The owner of the aircraft was in Utah to do some backcountry flying. He hired a local flight instructor to show him some of the airports in the area. On… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 21, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95119. 776 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 677 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453540&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Flight Instructor Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453541&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Interview%20Summary-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.