# NTSB WPR21LA076: Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L, N52NL, Santa Monica, CA, January 3, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 2, 2021, 16:15 local (Jan 3, 2021, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Santa Monica, CA · Airport - Coordinates: 34.015822, -118.4513 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0158&lon=-118.4513&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Lewandowski - NTSB case key (mKey): 102483 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102483/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102483 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA076 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground-loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=70218DG), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=70218DG), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=70218DG), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=70218DG), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, his foot “popped off” the rudder pedal and the airplane ground loop to the left. The left main landing collapsed, the left wing impacted the runway surface and came to rest on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N52NL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52NL), registered now, S/N 109, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EXTRA FLUGZEUGBAU GMBH EA 300/L - Registry model: [Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L](https://openairdocs.org/model/extra-flugzeugbau-ea-300-l) (registry code 70218DG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-series) (registry code 41568, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 109 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 912 - Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-540 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Marauder Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Marauder Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 27, 2020 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: SMO, Santa Monica Muni, runway 21, 3,500 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 13, 2020; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 991 total, 186 in this make and model, 810 as pilot in command, 98 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: KSMO - METAR: KSMO 030051Z AUTO 25004KT 10SM CLR 13/10 A3022 RMK AO2 SLP233 T01330100 ## 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 20210102001589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210102001589A), Jan 2, 2021: Extra Flugzeugbau Gmbh EA 300/L, Santa Monica, CA, Substantial damage. On January 02, 2021 at approximately 16:15, N52NL entered into a partial ground loop during landing rollout. This caused the left landing gear to collapse and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102483. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11844575&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA076%20NTSB%206120%20(Pilot)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Damage photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11844992&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Damage%20Photos-Rel.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.