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NTSB Report

August 27, 2005 · Presley RV-4 · N228X

Biddeford, ME

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 27, 2005
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Biddeford, ME
Aircraft
Presley RV-4
Tail Number
N228X
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
IAD05CA128

The pilot attempted to execute a three point landing in an amateur built tailwheel equipped airplane. A gust of wind struck the airplane, it stalled, landed hard, and veered off the runway. After leaving the pavement, the airplane struck a soft sandy area, nosed over and was substantially damaged. At the time of the accident the pilot had accumulated 29.5 hours of flight time, in the make and model of airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Contributing to the accident was the wind gusts.

Full Narrative

On August 27, 2005, about 1230 eastern daylight time, an amateur built Van's RV-4, N228X, was substantially damaged while landing at Biddeford Municipal Airport (B19), Biddeford, Maine. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that departed Augusta State Airport (AUG), Augusta, Maine. No flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot's written statement, he had an "uneventful" departure and flight from AUG to B19 with "mild to moderate" turbulence en route to 4,000 feet msl. However, while attempting to execute a "three point" landing and approximately 1 to 2 feet above the runway, a gust of wind hit the airplane from the right front. The airplane stalled, touched down "hard" and then departed the left side of the pavement. It then encountered soft sand and nosed over. A postaccident inspection of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the landing gear had been bent backwards, the motor mount was broken, the firewall was bent, and the propeller and left wingtip were damaged. During an interview conducted on September 16, 2005, the pilot stated that he had done a three point landing earlier in the day without any difficulty. Around the time that the accident occurred though, the wind had "become gusty" and two other pilots flying tailwheel airplanes told him that they also had "almost lost it." The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. On his pilot/operator aircraft accident report dated September 13, 2005 he reported a total flight time in make and model of 29.5 flight hours. A weather observation taken about 25 minutes after the accident at the Sanford Regional Airport (SFM), Sanford, Maine, located approximately 12 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, recorded the winds from 150 degrees at 3 knots.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:30 EDT
Nearest AirportBiddeford Municipal Airport (0nm)
Runway6
Runway Length3000 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPresley RV-4
Tail NumberN228X
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsEci · Titan/361-A1A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 59 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind150° @ 3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55
Altimeter30.07 inHg
Observation Time20:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data