# NTSB WPR22LA224: Robert Fitts Fitts CUB, N8576F, Hillsboro, OR, June 23, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 22, 2022, 17:28 local (Jun 23, 2022, 00:28 UTC)
- Place: Hillsboro, OR
- Coordinates: 45.42679, -122.94472 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4268&lon=-122.9447&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: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105318
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA224
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105318/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105318
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA224

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting wind.

## 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: [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: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot in the tail-wheeled equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, he encountered a wind gust. The airplane subsequently veered to the left and ground loop off the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8576F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBERT FITTS FITTS CUB
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 100
- Year built: 2019
- Airframe hours: 107.2
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, October 9, 2021
- Airport: 7S3, Stark'S Twin Oaks Airpark, runway 02, 2,465 × 48 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 16, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,900 total, 93 in this make and model, 1,300 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: KHIO, 7 nm away
- METAR: KHIO 230053Z 31016KT 10SM SCT055 23/13 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP176 T02330128

## 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 20220622010929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220622010929A), Jun 22, 2022: Robert Fitts FITTS CUB, Hillsboro, OR, Substantial damage. At approximately 1730PDT on 06/22/2022 an experimental amateur built aircraft, a Robert Fitts, Fitts Cub, [privacy data omitted] was landing at stark?s Twin…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105318. 4.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14121239&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident pictures (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14334085&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA224%20Accident%20Pictures_Redacted-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.

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