Hard Landing: Sonex Onex, N951X; Accident occurred June 25, 2020 at Anoka County-Blaine Airport (KANE), Minneapolis, Minnesota

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/N951X

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota 

Accident Number: CEN20CA251

Date & Time: June 25, 2020, 11:45 Local

Registration: N951X

Aircraft: SONEX ONEX

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Defining Event: Hard landing

Injuries: 1 None

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis

According to the pilot, he departed in a single-seat homebuilt airplane; however, the airplane did not feel "stable", so he elected to abort the takeoff. During touchdown, the airplane's nose landing gear hit the runway first. After the nose landing gear struck the runway, the rudder was jammed, and the airplane departed the runway surface. The airplane struck a runway light before coming to a stop. Examination of the airplane found that firewall damage had impacted and jammed the nosewheel steering and rudder controls. Damage to the airplane's left-wing leading edge, and substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer, and elevator were also noted.

Probable Cause and Findings

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

The pilot's hard landing on the airplane's nosewheel, which jammed the steering, and resulted in a runway excursion and impact with runway lights.

Findings

Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot

Aircraft Landing flare - Incorrect use/operation

Factual Information

History of Flight

Takeoff-rejected takeoff Miscellaneous/other

Landing-flare/touchdown Hard landing (Defining event)

Landing-flare/touchdown Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial 

Age: 82

Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land

Seat Occupied: Single

Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 

Restraint Used:

Instrument Rating(s): Airplane

Second Pilot Present: No

Instructor Rating(s): None

Toxicology Performed: No

Medical Certification: Sport pilot With waivers/limitations

Last FAA Medical Exam: December 14, 2006

Occupational Pilot: No

Last Flight Review or Equivalent: June 2, 2020

Flight Time: 884 hours (Total, all aircraft), 5.3 hours (Total, this make and model), 849 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 1.2 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 1.2 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: SONEX 

Registration: N951X

Model/Series: ONEX 

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Year of Manufacture: 2017 

Amateur Built: Yes

Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental (Special) 

Serial Number: ONX0028

Landing Gear Type: Tricycle 

Seats: 1

Date/Type of Last Inspection: September 23, 2019 Condition

Certified Max Gross Wt.:

Time Since Last Inspection:

Engines: 1 Reciprocating

Airframe Total Time: 9 Hrs at time of accident

Engine Manufacturer: Revmaster

ELT: Not installed 

Engine Model/Series: 2300

Registered Owner: 

Rated Power:

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: KANE

Distance from Accident Site:

Observation Time: 11:51 Local

Direction from Accident Site:

Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 25000 ft AGL 

Visibility 10 miles

Lowest Ceiling:

Visibility (RVR):

Wind Speed/Gusts: / 

Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  /

Wind Direction:

Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /

Altimeter Setting: 29.92 inches Hg 

Temperature/Dew Point: 27°C / 11°C

Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation

Departure Point: Minneapolis, MN (ANE)

Type of Flight Plan Filed: None

Destination: Minneapolis, MN (ANE)

Type of Clearance: VFR

Departure Time: Type of Airspace: 

Airport Information

Airport: Anoka County-Blaine Airport ANE

Runway Surface Type: Asphalt

Airport Elevation: 912 ft msl

Runway Surface Condition: Dry

Runway Used: 27

IFR Approach: None

Runway Length/Width: 5000 ft / 100 ft 

VFR Approach/Landing: Precautionary landing

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: 45.145278,-93.211944