Hall RV-4, N605RV: Accident occurred March 24, 2012 in Calhan, Colorado

http://registry.faa.gov/N605RV

NTSB Identification: CEN12CA206
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, March 24, 2012 in Calhan, CO
Probable Cause Approval Date: 05/21/2012
Aircraft: HALL JEFFREY HALL RV-4, registration: N605RV
Injuries: 1 Serious.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot reported that he departed a private airfield earlier in the day, and, at the time he departed, the wind was from the north about 5 knots. About 3.5 hours later, he returned to the airfield, which has a north-south oriented runway. The pilot stated that, due to terrain obstructions, landing to the north was “unadvisable.” The pilot added that the wind socks at the airfield indicated a slightly northern wind, light and variable, with no gusts. The pilot stated that he flew three passes to assess the wind, then made his approach and landed to the south. He added that, throughout the landing roll, the airplane was not affected by the wind; however, when the airplane was traveling about 5 knots ground speed, a crosswind gust blew the airplane off track, lifted the tail, and the airplane flipped over onto its back. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its vertical stabilizer and canopy. The pilot reported that there were no airplane malfunctions that contributed to the cause of the accident.

About an hour before the accident, the automated weather reporting station located about 14 miles west of the airfield reported wind from 040 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 19 knots. About 5 minutes after the accident, the automated weather reporting station located about 19 miles southwest of the airfield reported wind from 050 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 17 knots.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's loss of airplane control while landing with a gusting tailwind condition.

The airline transport pilot reported that he departed a private airfield earlier in the day and at the time he departed, the wind was from the north about 5 knots. About three and half hours later, he returned to the airfield, which has a north-south oriented runway. The pilot stated that due to terrain obstructions, landing to the north was “unadvisable”. The pilot added that the wind socks at the airfield indicated a slightly northern wind, light and variable, with no gusts. The pilot then stated that he flew three passes to assess the wind, then made his approach and landed to the south. He added that throughout the landing roll the airplane was not affected by the wind; however, when the airplane was at about 5 knots ground speed, a crosswind gust blew the airplane off track, lifted the tail, and the airplane flipped over onto its back. The airplane received substantial damage to its vertical stabilizer and canopy. The pilot also added that there were no airplane malfunctions that contributed to the cause of the accident.

At 1226 automated weather reporting station located about 14 miles west of the accident airfield reported wind from 040 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 19. At 1335 the automated weather reporting station located about 19 miles southwest reported the wind from 050 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 17 knots.
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 ELBERT COUNTY, COLO. -- A plane is found upside down when it crash lands in Elbert County. The RV-4, a homebuilt plane, made an emergency landing near the intersection of County Road 73 and 94. The pilot was trapped in his aircraft. Flight for Life was called and the pilot has been taken to Memorial Hospital. Weather does not appear to be a factor at this time. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the accident. 

DENVER (WTW) — Authorities are responding to a small plane crash in Elbert County southeast of Denver. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Mike Fergus says an RV-4 airplane crashed in the rural county Saturday afternoon, and the pilot was the only one on board. Fergus said he did not know if the pilot was injured, the extent of the damage or the circumstances of the crash. He said the pilot was conscious when emergency crews arrived.