Wednesday, March 03, 2021

Loss of Control on Ground: Vans RV-8, N878DZ; accident occurred March 04, 2020 at Cincinnati West Airport (I67), Harrison, Hamilton County, Ohio

 



Tailwheel Yoke 

Tailwheel Fork (Key Slide Fully Extended) 

Tailwheel Fork (Key Slide Stuck Fully Retracted)

 Tailwheel Fork (Disassembled) 



Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Cincinnati, Ohio

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket 
 
https://registry.faa.gov/N878DZ


Location: Harrison, OH

Accident Number: CEN20CA114
Date & Time: 03/04/2020, 1402 EST
Registration:N878DZ 
Aircraft: Vans RV8
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he made a normal landing approach to the runway with a direct crosswind of 15 knots, gusting to 23 knots. The pilot was initially able to maintain directional control with normal flight control inputs after the airplane touched down on the main landing gear; however, when the tailwheel touched down, the tail began to weathervane, and the airplane veered right. The pilot was unable to regain directional control by applying full left rudder and left brake before the airplane departed the right side of the runway and struck a precision approach path indicator lights system. The left wing, left horizontal stabilizer, and left elevator sustained substantial damage.

Postaccident examination and a functional test of the steerable tailwheel revealed that the spring actuated key slide would stick in the retracted position within the tailwheel fork, which allowed the tailwheel to fully caster instead of being steerable within the normal limits intended for takeoff and landing. Additional examination revealed that the slot in the tailwheel fork that held the spring-actuated key slide was slightly deformed and that the key had several raised edges that caused the key to bind when fully retracted in the slot. It is likely that the tailwheel was able to fully caster during landing, which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain directional control after the tailwheel touched down during the landing roll.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The malfunction of the steerable tailwheel, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing roll and subsequent impact with the precision approach path indicator lights system.

Findings

Aircraft Landing gear steering system - Malfunction
Aircraft Directional control - Attain/maintain not possible
Environmental issues Runway/taxi/approach light - Effect on operation

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing-landing roll Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
Landing-landing roll Loss of control on ground (Defining event)
Landing-landing roll Attempted remediation/recovery
Landing-landing roll Runway excursion
Landing-landing roll Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport; Flight Instructor
Age: 51, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Glider
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present:No 
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Single-engine; Instrument Airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/04/2019
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 01/18/2020
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 22000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 125 hours (Total, this make and model), 17000 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 270 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 90 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Vans
Registration: N878DZ
Model/Series: RV8
Aircraft Category:Airplane 
Year of Manufacture:2004 
Amateur Built:Yes 
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 81885
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats:2 
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 02/11/2020, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 438 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-360-A1A
Registered Owner: Caye Palmas Transport Inc.
Rated Power: 180 hp
Operator: Caye Palmas Transport Inc.
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: I67, 584 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1355 EST
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 7500 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 15 knots / 21 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 270°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.86 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 16°C / -1°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Cynthiana, KY (0I8)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR
Destination: Harrison, OH (I67)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1340 EST
Type of Airspace:Class G 

Airport Information

Airport: Cincinnati West Airport (I67)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 584 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 19
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 2808 ft / 60 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop; Traffic Pattern 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 39.259167, -84.774444 (est)

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