# NTSB WPR18LA065: Just JA30 Superstol, N413Z, Kapolei, HI, January 13, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 13, 2018, 09:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Kapolei, HI - Coordinates: 21.307222, -158.070281 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.3072&lon=-158.0703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 96601 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18LA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96601/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96601 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA065 ## Probable cause The collapse and separation of the right landing gear suspension strut due to overload. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Larry Jefts JA30 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=05634OJ), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Larry Jefts JA30 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05634OJ), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Larry Jefts JA30 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05634OJ), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while landing at an airport after the personal flight, the airplane ground looped. The pilot visually inspected the airplane and found no damage. He then took off and flew to another airport. The pilot reported that, after touchdown at a speed of about 30 mph, the airplane veered sharply, and the right landing gear suspension strut collapsed. After the accident, the pilot discovered that the right suspension strut separated from the airplane; it was found on the runway near the touchdown point. A metallurgical examination of the strut revealed that the separation features were consistent with an overload type of failure; however, it could not be determined when the event leading to the overload occurred. ## Factual narrative On January 13, 2018, at 0945 Hawaii-Aleutian standard time, an experimental JA30 Superstol airplane, N413Z, was substantially damaged during landing at Kalaeloa Airport /John Rodgers Field (PHJR), Kapolei, Hawaii. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Dillingham Airfield (PHDH), Mokuleia, Hawaii, at 0904. The pilot reported in a written statement that during the landing at PHDH, he had some difficulty with the suspension system and the airplane ground looped. The pilot did a visual inspection of the airplane and found no damage. The pilot then took off and flew to PHJR for landing. After touchdown at a speed of about 30 mph, the airplane veered sharply and the right landing gear strut collapsed. After the accident, the pilot discovered that the right suspension strut separated from the airplane and it was found on the runway near the touchdown point. The suspension strut was sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for examination. The metallurgist reported that the separation features were consistent with an overload type of failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N413Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N413Z), registered now, S/N JA435-01-15, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Just JA30 SUPERSTOL (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Larry Jefts JA30 SUPERSTOL](https://openairdocs.org/model/larry-jefts-ja30-superstol) (registry code 05634OJ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JA435-01-15 - Year built: 2016 - Airframe hours: 61 - Engines: Rotex 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2017 - Departed: HDH, Waialua, HI - Destination: HJR, Kapolei, HI - Airport: JRF, Kalaeloa (John Rodgers Field), runway 11, 6,000 × 200 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 16, 2017; seat: left; flight hours: 3,465 total, 20 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2.4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: PHNL, 8 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 20180113014459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180113014459A), Jan 13, 2018: Larry Jefts JA30 SUPERSTOL, Kapolei, HI, Substantial damage. Departed private field and landed at dillingham airfield. Upon landing, he stated that the suspension didn't feel right and the aircraft attempted to ground… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 16, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96601. 1.6 MB in all. - Materials Laboratory Factual Report (item 1, .PDF, 154 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479982&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479983&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 328 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479984&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.