# NTSB WPR22LA355: Hartunian Robert Pulsar XP, N204BH, Big Bear, CA, September 25, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 25, 2022, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Big Bear, CA - Coordinates: 34.263778, -116.85602 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2638&lon=-116.8560&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - 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): 106006 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA355 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106006/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106006 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA355 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inability to maintain directional control after landing with an excessive ground speed due to a tailwind which, resulted in a severe shimmy which subsequently damaged a hydraulic brake line. ## 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: [Hartunian Robert PULSAR XP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056170X), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Hartunian Robert PULSAR XP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=056170X), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Hartunian Robert PULSAR XP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056170X), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hartunian Robert PULSAR XP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=056170X), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Hartunian Robert PULSAR XP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=056170X), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Hartunian Robert PULSAR XP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056170X), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot in the experimental amateur-built tricycle landing gear equipped airplane reported that, he was not aware that a 10-mph tailwind existed during landing. He normally touches down at 90 mph, however with the tailwind, the airplane’s ground speed was 104 mph when the airplane touched down and a severe shimmy ensued. The pilot applied the brakes, however the left side brake failed, and the airplane veered right, exited the right side of the runway, and subsequently impacted a hangar. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and engine mounts. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the left main landing gear wheel pant inboard bracket rivets failed, and the wheel pant severed the plastic hydraulic brake line. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N204BH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N204BH), registered now, S/N 468, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HARTUNIAN ROBERT PULSAR XP - Registry model: [Hartunian Robert PULSAR XP](https://openairdocs.org/model/hartunian-robert-pulsar-xp) (registry code 056170X) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 468 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 1501 - Engines: ROTAX 912S 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 29, 2021, 100 hours before - Departed: APV, Apple Valley, CA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: L35, Big Bear City Airport, runway 26, 5,850 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 83; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review October 1, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,892 total, 1,501 in this make and model, 1,892 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.41 inHg - Observed at: KL35 - METAR: KL35 251635Z AUTO 07004KT 10SM CLR 20/10 A3041 RMK AO2 ## 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 20220925018979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220925018979A), Sep 25, 2022: Hartunian Robert PULSAR XP, Big Bear City, CA, Substantial damage. On September 25, 2022 upon landing runway 26 at big Bear airport (L35) the pilot experienced left brake failure. The aircraft a pulsar Pulsar Xp experimental… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 28, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106006. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15023525&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15022704&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20PIC-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� FAA (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15024042&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Photographs (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15023658&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photographs-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.