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December 17, 2001 · Vernon Sonerai IIL · N6399D

Camarillo, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 17, 2001
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Camarillo, CA
Aircraft
Vernon Sonerai IIL
Tail Number
N6399D
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX02LA051

On the landing rollout, the airplane departed the runway and came to rest inverted in an adjacent field. The adjacent field had recently been plowed and contained furrows. The airplane traveled perpendicular to the furrows and nosed over. The purpose of the flight was to practice maneuvers and fulfill the experimental operating certificate limitations initial 40-hour requirement. The pilot had accrued 5 hours of flight time on the airplane. When he returned to land, he noted a crosswind but did not believe that it would have an effect on the landing. There were no mechanical anomalies noted with the airplane by the pilot. Of note in the pilot's written statement was the directional instability that he encountered during takeoffs in the 7 hours that were placed on the airplane within the previous year. He made several modifications, mostly rigging changes to the tailwheel, to improve the takeoff characteristics. While in contact with the Sonerai technical representative, the owner stated that there were plans to convert the conventional landing gear airplane to a tricycle landing gear. The proposed modification would solve the instability problem.

NTSB Probable Cause

Failure of the pilot to maintain directional control on the landing rollout. Factors were the owner/pilot's inadequate remedial design changes and the freshly plowed field.

Full Narrative

On December 17, 2001, about 1250 Pacific standard time, a Vernon Sonerai II, N6399D, lost directional control on the landing rollout on runway 26, and came to rest inverted in an adjacent field at the Camarillo Airport, Camarillo, California. The experimental airplane was operated by the owner under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and sustained substantial damage. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight and no flight plan had been filed. The airplane departed Camarillo about 1000. The Safety Board investigator interviewed the pilot. The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to practice maneuvers, as well as to fulfill the experimental certificate operating limitations initial 40-hour requirement. He indicated that he had accrued 5 hours of flight time in the airplane, which was also the total time on the airplane. After departing Camarillo airspace, the pilot flew towards Santa Paula, about 10 miles away, to practice maneuvers. He flew about 1.5 hours before returning to Camarillo for landing. He noted a slight crosswind on landing, but nothing unusual. In the pilot's written statement to the Safety Board, he stated that after touchdown the airplane became directionally unstable with increasing amplitude until the airplane was facing perpendicular to the runway. The airplane then departed the runway, and traveled perpendicular to the furrows present in the infield of the airport. Of note in the pilot's written statement was the directional instability that he encountered during takeoffs in the 7 hours that were placed on the airplane. He made several modifications, mostly rigging changes to the tail wheel, to improve the takeoff characteristics. While in contact with the Sonerai technical representative, the owner stated that there were plans to convert the conventional landing gear airplane to a tricycle landing gear. The proposed modification would solve the instability problem, "the resulting mass induced control signals are stabilizing instead of destabilizing."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:50 PST
Nearest AirportCamarillo (0nm N)
Runway26
Runway Length6010 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftVernon Sonerai IIL
Tail NumberN6399D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRevmaster · R2100-DCDI · Reciprocating · 75
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 73 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind260° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 36 C
Altimeter30.19 inHg
Observation Time19:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data