Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Salt Lake City, Utah
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Heber City, Utah
Accident Number: WPR20CA142
Date & Time: May 8, 2020, 10:45 Local
Registration: N363EX
Aircraft: N126C LLC CCX-2000
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis
The accident flight was a sales demonstration conducted by the rear seat pilot, an employee of the airplane manufacturer, for the front seat pilot. At the time, the rear seat pilot held a private pilot certificate and had accumulated 1,000 total flight hours in the accident airplane make and model. The front seat pilot held a commercial pilot certificate, but his most recent flight review had expired at the time of the accident flight. He reported that he had no experience in the airplane make and model.
The rear seat pilot reported that during their final landing attempt with the front seat pilot on the controls, the airplane touched down normally and started to veer to the left. The front seat pilot corrected to the right and the rear seat pilot then attempted to recover the airplane with left rudder and right aileron, but the airplane ground looped to the right. According to the front seat pilot, the rear seat pilot interfered with the rudder controls during the rollout, which impeded his attempts to maintain directional control after the airplane veered to the right. The left wing and fuselage were substantially damaged.
According to the rear seat pilot, at the time of the accident, the company did not have a formal policy to learn a prospective buyer's qualifications prior to a sales flight. Instead, they required a conversation with the prospective buyer about their recent flight history based on "trust and judgment." He further remarked that for the accident flight there could have been better communication, as he did not formally ascertain the front seat occupant's level of proficiency and experience. The rear seat pilot further stated that both occupants were wearing face masks, which interfered with their communication.
The front seat pilot reported that they never discussed his flight experience, qualifications, or proficiency in the airplane prior to the accident flight. He was also never advised that he would assume the role of pilot-in-command.
Neither pilot reported that there were any preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The front seat pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, and the rear seat pilot's delayed remedial control inputs that subsequently resulted in a ground loop. Contributing to the accident was a lack of communication by both pilot's to establish clearly defined pilot-in-command roles prior to the accident flight.
Findings
Aircraft Directional control - Not attained/maintained
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Personnel issues Lack of communication - Pilot
Personnel issues Lack of communication - Passenger
Factual Information
History of Flight
Landing-landing roll Loss of control on ground (Defining event)
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 49, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Single-engine sea
Seat Occupied: Rear
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: Class 2 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: September 27, 2019
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: August 22, 2019
Flight Time: 4750 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1000 hours (Total, this make and model), 4680 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 125 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 45 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 6 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Pilot-rated passenger Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 44,Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: May 20, 2019
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: August 15, 2016
Flight Time: 1420 hours (Total, all aircraft), 0 hours (Total, this make and model), 716 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 22 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: N126C LLC
Registration: N363EX
Model/Series: CCX-2000
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2017
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental (Special)
Serial Number: CCX-2000-0001
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: July 16, 2019 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2000 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 35 Hrs
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 593.7 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: YIO-360-EXP12
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 186 Horsepower
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: 5636 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time: 09:55 Local
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.22 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 11°C / -5°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Heber, UT (HCR)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Heber City, UT (HCR)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 10:00 Local
Type of Airspace: Class E
Airport Information
Airport: Heber Valley HCR
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 5636 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 22
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 6898 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: 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: 40.486667,-111.421943
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