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April 17, 2020 · Holmgren Bearhawk · N118CR

Ahoskie, NC

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 17, 2020
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Ahoskie, NC
Aircraft
Holmgren Bearhawk (2013)
Tail Number
N118CR
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA20CA152

The pilot stated that, during landing roll, the right main landing gear (MLG) collapsed. He added that there were two bolts that secure the right MLG and that he found them both fractured after the accident. The pilot believed that one of the bolts was not properly tightened/torqued and failed first and that the second bolt then failed due to overstress. A witness who was working at the airport at the time of the accident reported that he noticed a small airplane approaching and that it appeared to be "wobbling" as it came in for landing. Upon landing, the airplane "bounced" on the runway, turned left, and departed the runway. The witness was unable to see the entire touchdown because his line of sight was partially obscured by buildings, but he noticed that one wingtip seemed to rise 15 to 20 ft during the bounce. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, airframe, and tailwheel. A 6-knot crosswind existed at the time of the landing.

NTSB Probable Cause

Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation - C

Full Narrative

The pilot of the experimental, amateur-built tailwheel airplane was also the owner and maintained it as well. He stated that during landing, the right main landing gear collapsed. He added that there were two bolts that secure the right main landing gear and he found them both fractured after the accident. The pilot believed that one of the bolts was not properly tightened/torqued and failed first, and then the second bolt failed due to overstress. A witness, who was working on that airport at the time, reported that while driving back to the terminal, he noticed a small airplane approaching and it caught his attention as it appeared to be "wobbling" as it came in for landing. It then appeared as if the airplane "bounced" on the runway and departed the left side of the runway. The witness was unable to see the entire airplane touch down due his line of sight being partially obscured by buildings, but he noticed that one wingtip seemed to rise 15 to 20 ft during the "bounce." Examination of the wreckage revealed damage to the right wing, airframe, and tailwheel. The recorded wind at the airport, about 5 minutes before the accident, indicated an 80° left crosswind at 6 knots.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:00 EDT
Nearest AirportTri-County Airport (0nm N)
Runway19
Runway Length4501 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHolmgren Bearhawk
Tail NumberN118CR
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 78 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind110° @ 6 kt
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point59 / 39 C
Altimeter30.30 inHg
Observation Time14:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data