Sunday, April 14, 2019

Parts Separation from Aircraft: Cub Crafters CCX-2000, N116PM; accident occurred July 31, 2018 at Bend Municipal Airport (KBDN), Deschutes County, Oregon

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Portland, Oregon

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N116PM

Location: Bend, OR
Accident Number: GAA18CA459
Date & Time: 07/31/2018, 1330 PDT
Registration: N116PM
Aircraft: HERZOG AVIATION CCX-2000
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Part(s) separation from AC
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped, experimental, amateur-built airplane reported that, during the landing roll at his home airport, the left main landing gear (MLG) wheel exited the asphalt runway and entered gravel that bordered the runway. The pilot applied right rudder to steer the airplane back onto the runway, but at the point where the left MLG tire contacted the asphalt runway, the left MLG collapsed. The left wing struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest on the runway.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar and aileron.

The pilot reported that the left MLG shock absorber shaft had sheared off at the lock nut attached to the rod end, which he believed resulted in the left MLG collapsing. However, photographs provided by Federal Aviation Administration air safety inspectors revealed that the left MLG failed inward and underneath the fuselage of the airplane. Additionally, the photographs revealed ground scars on the asphalt runway from the left wing that could be traced from the runway centerline, about 90° back to that of the runway heading. Further, photographs revealed that the airplane was equipped with tundra tires, which would have put a lot of stress on the landing gear. The evidence indicates that the left MLG collapsed when the pilot attempted to steer the airplane back onto the runway.

The METAR at the airport reported that the wind about the time of the accident was variable at 3 knots, gusting to 12 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 16. 

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and the subsequent collapse of the left main landing gear when he attempted to steer the airplane back onto the runway. 

Findings

Aircraft
Directional control - Not attained/maintained (Cause)
Main landing gear - Failure (Cause)

Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing-landing roll
Loss of control on ground

Attempted remediation/recovery

According to the pilot, he had taken delivery of a tailwheel-equipped, experimental, amateur-built airplane at his home airport. After a 1-hour flight to return the ferry pilot to his departure airport, the pilot flew 1.2-hours with a flight instructor. After dropping off the instructor, he flew the 1-hour return flight to his home airport.

He reported that during the landing roll at his home airport, the left main landing gear wheel exited the asphalt runway and entered gravel that bordered the runway. The pilot applied right rudder to steer the airplane back on to the runway, but the landing gear tire contacted the asphalt runway and the left main landing gear failed. The left wing struck the ground and the airplane came to rest on the runway.

The pilot reported the occurrence of a mechanical failure of the left landing gear shock absorber shaft that had sheared off at the lock nut attached to the rod end.

However, photographs provided by Federal Aviation Administration Air Safety Inspectors revealed that the left main landing gear failed inward and underneath the fuselage of the airplane. Additionally, the photographs revealed ground scars on the asphalt runway from the left wing that can be traced from the runway centerline, about 90° back to that of the runway heading. Furthermore, photographs revealed that the airplane was equipped with tundra tires.

The METAR at the accident airport had reported that the wind about the time of the accident, was variable at 3 knots and gusting to 12 knots. The pilot landed on runway 16.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar and aileron.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 75, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 07/16/2018
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 07/27/2017
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 2044 hours (Total, all aircraft), 4 hours (Total, this make and model), 2044 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 35 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 22 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: HERZOG AVIATION
Registration: N116PM
Model/Series: CCX-2000
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2018
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: CCX-2000-0025
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 07/03/2018,
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2000 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 44.6 Hours
Engine Manufacturer: Cub Crafter
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: CC363i
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 186 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KBDN, 3462 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 2035 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 20°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 9 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Light and Variable / 12 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: Variable
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.05 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 33°C / 6°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Bend, OR (BDN)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Bend, OR (BDN)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1221 PDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Bend Muni (BDN)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 3459 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 16
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5200 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing:  Full Stop; Traffic Pattern

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 44.094444, -121.200278 (est)

3 comments:

  1. It is more simple to say exactly what happened rather than have investigators disprove you/me and affect your/my credibility.

    ReplyDelete

  2. I just bought the plane and I wasn't accustom to landing on pavement with tundra tires. The sumbich got away from me and I dam near ground looped before I collapsed the gear from excessive side loading.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey, wind shear, wind gusts, crosswind, tailwheel not working, brakes stuck or not working, wife left parking brake on, tires failed, Bungees, shocks, whatever, The FAA will normally will pull from their data base, “pilot failed to maintain directional control while landing” usually covers it. Often halfway down a long runway from to much speed. All ages, hours, experience. I learned in a tail wheel and often there are days when the plane stays in the hangar. Period. You Can understand why insurance costs more.

    ReplyDelete