# NTSB WPR23LA273: Vans RV8, N68TP, Metaline Falls, WA, July 1, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 1, 2023, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Metaline Falls, WA - Coordinates: 48.85, -117.28 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.8500&lon=-117.2800&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: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 192641 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA273 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192641/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192641 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA273 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing due to impact with a concrete ring embedded in the grass runway. ## 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: [Powers Thomas J RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05633YM), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Powers Thomas J RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=05633YM), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/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: [Powers Thomas J RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05633YM), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Powers Thomas J RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05633YM), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Powers Thomas J RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05633YM), [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: [Powers Thomas J RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05633YM), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the landing rollout, after the tail came down, he felt and heard a “bang” as the airplane rolled over a concrete ring, embedded in the turf runway. The airplane continued down the runway and the right main landing gear tire dug into the ground, followed by the collapse of the right main landing gear. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. After exiting the airplane, the pilot noticed that the tailwheel steering link was broken. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68TP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N68TP), registered now, S/N 83300, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS RV8 - Registry model: [Powers Thomas J RV8](https://openairdocs.org/model/powers-thomas-j-rv8) (registry code 05633YM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Superior IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/superior-io-360-series) (registry code 59251, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 83300 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 1190.9 - Engines: Superior XP IO-360-B1HD2 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 1, 2023, 15 hours before - Departed: R49, Republic, WA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: O9S, Sullivan Lake State, runway 34, 1,765 × 100 ft, gravel - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 12, 2022; seat: front; flight hours: 4,133 total, 1,215 in this make and model, 3,994 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: K63S, 30 nm away - METAR: METAR K63S 011935Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 28/08 A2996 RMK A01 ## 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 20230701009559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230701009559A), Jul 1, 2023: Powers Thomas J RV8, Metaline Falls, WA, Substantial damage. The pilot departed from paine field (pae) to republic (R49), and then proceeded to Sullivan lake (09S). The pilot stated that he observed the winds were calm… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192641. 8.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 8.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15980088&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA273%206120_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15980332&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Tom%20Powers_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 432 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15979896&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=damage%20photo_%20508-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.