# NTSB WPR23LA326: Henry Steven J JA 30 Superstol, N869BB, Leavenworth, WA, August 28, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 28, 2023, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Leavenworth, WA
- Coordinates: 47.8142, -120.68983
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8142&lon=-120.6898&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- 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: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192955
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA326
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192955/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192955
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA326

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during taxi, which resulted in a nose over.

## 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: [Henry Steven J JA 30 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056336C), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: choppy surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Henry Steven J JA 30 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030/cases.md?model=056336C), [All aircraft, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Henry Steven J JA 30 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056336C), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while taxiing for takeoff on a gravel bar, he encountered a slope. To prevent potential loss of control, he applied brake pressure to both wheels, causing the airplane to nose over, resulting in substantial damage to the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N869BB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N869BB), registered now, S/N JA366-04-14, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HENRY STEVEN J JA 30 SUPERSTOL
- Registry model: [Henry Steven J JA 30 SUPERSTOL](https://openairdocs.org/model/henry-steven-j-ja-30-superstol) (registry code 056336C) (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: JA366-04-14
- Year built: 2015
- Airframe hours: 479
- Engines: Rotax 915IS 141 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, June 25, 2023, 105 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 27W, Lake Wenatchee State
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 7, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 286 total, 230 in this make and model, 230 as pilot in command, 84 in the last 90 days, 84 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: KEAT, 32 nm away
- METAR: KEAT 281755Z AUTO 26004KT 10SM CLR 26/11 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP164 T02610106 10261 20194 58004

## 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 20230828013059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230828013059A), Aug 28, 2023: Henry Steven J JA 30 SUPERSTOL, Leavenworth, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he took off from his private strip with the intension of landing in a local backcountry river sandbar. Upon landing on the sandbar he applied…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192955. 2.4 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=16238025&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA326%206120%20Flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 282 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16237717&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA326%20Docket%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.

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