Abnormal Runway Contact: Hatz CB-1, N35JA; accident occurred June 25, 2020 at Red Wing Regional Airport (KRGK), Pierce County, Wisconsin

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Minneapolis, Minnesota

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket

https://registry.faa.gov/N35JA

Location: Red Wing, Minnesota

Accident Number: CEN20CA250

Date & Time: June 25, 2020, 15:00 Local

Registration: N35JA

Aircraft: Hatz HATZ CB 1

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Defining Event: Abnormal runway contact 

Injuries: 1 None

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis

The commercial pilot was practicing landings with light wind present in his tailwheel airplane on an occasionally used grass area south of the paved runway. The pilot made one successful landing on the grass. During the next landing, the airplane bounced, which resulted in a nose up attitude. The pilot does not recall if he added engine power to remedy the bounced landing. However, the pilot did not perform a go-around as recommended by the Federal Aviation Administration Airplane Flying Handbook. The airplane stalled and impacted terrain in a nose low attitude. The propeller "dug in" the terrain and the airplane nosed over. The airplane subsequently sustained substantial empennage damage. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The pilot's failure to perform a go around following a bounced landing that resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Findings

Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing Abnormal runway contact (Defining event)

Landing Aerodynamic stall/spin

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial 

Age: 71, Male

Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Single-engine sea; Multi-engine land

Seat Occupied: Rear

Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 

Restraint Used: 4-point

Instrument Rating(s): Airplane

Second Pilot Present: No

Instructor Rating(s): None

Toxicology Performed: No

Medical Certification: BasicMed

Last FAA Medical Exam: October 3, 2019

Occupational Pilot: No 

Last Flight Review or Equivalent: July 26, 2018

Flight Time: 1804 hours (Total, all aircraft), 12.5 hours (Total, this make and model), 1602 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 5.3 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 2.5 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0.5 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Hatz Registration: N35JA

Model/Series: HATZ CB 1 No Series 

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Year of Manufacture: 1979

Amateur Built: Yes

Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental (Special) 

Serial Number: 20

Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel

Seats: 2

Date/Type of Last Inspection: March 20, 2020 Condition 

Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1750 lbs

Time Since Last Inspection:

Engines: 1 Reciprocating

Airframe Total Time: 485 Hrs at time of accident

Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming

ELT: C91 installed, not activated

Engine Model/Series: O-320-A3B

Registered Owner: 

Rated Power: 150 Horsepower

Operator: On file

Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC) 

Condition of Light: Day

Observation Facility, Elevation: KRGK,780 ft msl

Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles

Observation Time: 15:35 Local

Direction from Accident Site: 180°

Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 7000 ft AGL

Visibility 10 miles

Lowest Ceiling: 

Visibility (RVR):

Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /

Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /

Wind Direction: 250° 

Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /

Altimeter Setting: 29.88 inches Hg 

Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 10°C

Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation

Departure Point: Red Wing, MN (RGK)

Type of Flight Plan Filed: None

Destination: Red Wing, MN (RGK)

Type of Clearance: None

Departure Time: 14:30 Local

Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: RED WING RGNL RGK

Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf

Airport Elevation: 777 ft msl 

Runway Surface Condition: Dry

Runway Used: 27 IFR 

Approach: None

Runway Length/Width: 5010 ft / 100 ft

VFR Approach/Landing: Full stop

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries:

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: N/A 

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 1 None 

Latitude, Longitude: 44.589443,-92.485(est)