Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Scottsdale, Arizona
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Accident Number: WPR20CA080
Date & Time: January 25, 2020, 08:50 Local
Registration: N399A
Aircraft: MERWIN Kitfox
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Pilot Information
Certificate: Airline transport; Commercial; Flight instructor
Age: 71, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Gyroplane
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane multi-engine; Airplane single-engine; Gyroplane; Instrument airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: August 2, 2018
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: February 22, 2018
Flight Time: (Estimated) 14000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 5 hours (Total, this make and model), 15 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft)
Pilot-rated passenger Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 76, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: BasicMed None
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: January 25, 2020
Flight Time: (Estimated) 302 hours (Total, all aircraft), 6 hours (Total, this make and model), 302 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: MERWIN
Registration: N399A
Model/Series: Kitfox S7 Super S
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2019 Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental light sport (Special)
Serial Number: KA12273245
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Unknown
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1320 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 6 Hrs at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Rotax
ELT: C91 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: 912ULS
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 100 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: KGYR,968 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 08:47 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 226°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 25000 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.09 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 12°C / 6°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Goodyear, AZ (GYR)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Goodyear, AZ (GYR)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 08:00 Local
Type of Airspace: Class D
Airport Information
Airport: Phoenix Goodyear GYR
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 969 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 21
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 8500 ft / 150 ft VFR
Approach/Landing: Touch and go;Traffic pattern
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 33.423332,-112.375274(est)
Possibly experience a severe shimmy while rolling out from a fast landing. Could have shook or thrown one or two of the chains making tailwheel uncontrollable without greater rudder imputs. Just guessing after reading pilots description during rollout. With two occupants the tail spring could compress or sag enough to create a negative castor of tailwheel shaft, causing worse shimmy. Weak tailwheel spring causing sag and negative castor could be contributing. Slowing down as much as possible helps prevent a violent shimmy. Having a correct setup is best solution. I notice this problem on many tailwheel planes.
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