Tuesday, October 01, 2019

Loss of Control on Ground: Beech F33A Bonanza, N9469Q; accident occurred October 13, 2018 at Swinton Smith Field (KRVJ), Reidsville, Tattnall County, Georgia

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia

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


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


https://registry.faa.gov/N9469Q


Location: Reidsville, GA
Accident Number: ERA19TA011
Date & Time: 10/13/2018, 1315 EDT
Registration: N9469Q
Aircraft: Beech F33
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

Analysis 

The private pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane touched down on the main landing gear slightly left of centerline. As soon as he lowered the nose landing gear (NLG), he felt the airplane lurch left and then right. The pilot attempted to arrest the movement with rudder inputs, followed by differential braking, but the airplane continued to veer right uncontrollably. He then intentionally increased braking until both wheels started skidding. The airplane skidded sideways and then exited the right side of the runway and collided with a taxiway sign before coming to rest upright.

Examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Continuity of the NLG steering system was confirmed. Given the evidence, it is likely that the pilot did not maintain directional control after landing, which resulted in the runway excursion.

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 landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a taxiway sign.

Findings

Aircraft
Directional control - Not attained/maintained (Cause)

Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)

Environmental issues
Sign/marker - Effect on operation (Cause)


Factual Information

On October 13, 2018, about 1315 eastern daylight time, a Beech F33A, N9469Q, was substantially damaged during landing at Swinton Smith Field (RVJ), Reidsville, Georgia. The private pilot was not injured. The personal flight was operated by the pilot and conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated from Wright Army Airfield (LHW), Hinesville, Georgia, about 1215.

The pilot reported that he flew the airport traffic pattern for runway 29, a 5,000-ft-long, 75-ft-wide, asphalt runway. The airplane touched down at 65 knots on the main landing gear about 750 ft from the approach end of the runway and slightly left of centerline. As soon as he lowered the nosegear, he felt the airplane lurch uncharacteristically left and then right. The pilot attempted to arrest the movement first with rudder inputs, then by differential braking. The airplane did not respond and started to veer uncontrollably to the right. He then intentionally increased braking until both wheels started skidding. At this point the airplane was skidding sideways and traveled off the right side of the runway, colliding with a taxiway sign before coming to rest upright.

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left main landing gear collapsed and the left wing spar was damaged. The inspector added that a continuity check of the nose landing gear system to include all linkage from the rudder pedals to the rudder flight control was performed and no discrepancies were noted. Further examination of the nosewheel well area revealed no visible indications of premature component failure. Examination of the runway revealed main landing gear tire marks about 750 ft from the approach end of the runway. Shortly after the main landing gear tire marks, a nosewheel tire mark was visible and continued straight without any wobbling deviations. The inspector also noted main landing gear tire mark skids further down the runway, consistent with the pilot's report of heavy braking before departing the side of the runway.

The recorded wind at an airport located about 12 nautical miles northwest of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 290° at 4 knots.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 67, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: BasicMed
Last FAA Medical Exam: 05/22/2018
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 07/06/2018
Flight Time:  668 hours (Total, all aircraft), 110 hours (Total, this make and model), 188 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 12 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 6 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Beech
Registration: N9469Q
Model/Series: F33 A
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1972
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: CE-369
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 09/03/2018, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.:  3400 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 13 Hours
Engines:  Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 4033 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-520
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 285 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: VDI, 274 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 12 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1315 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 310°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 4 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 290°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.97 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C / 6°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Hinesville, GA (LHW)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Reidsville, GA (RVJ)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1215 EDT
Type of Airspace:

Airport Information

Airport: Swinton Smith Field (RVJ)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 195 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 29
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5000 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: 32.059444, -82.153611 (est)

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