Harmel RV6A N221MH

Summary

On 15 October 2005 at about 20:05 local time, a Harmel RV6A registered N221MH was involved in an accident near Oceanside, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 October 2005 at 20:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Oceanside, California, United States

Nearest airport

Oceanside Municipal (OKB)

Coordinates

33.2178, -117.3514

Aircraft

Harmel RV6A

Registration

N221MH

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mesquite → Oceanside

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX06CA019

Nobody was injured.

the pilot-induced oscillations encountered on landing following the pilot's misjudged landing flare and premature release of elevator backpressure during touchdown.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane porpoised on landing and nosed over after separation of the nose wheel. The pilot said he was on final approach at 70 mph over the runway numbers. He leveled out the airplane for touchdown and believed his main landing gear were on the ground for about 100 yards; however, he was mistaken, and in fact, the airplane had not touched down. He released backpressure on the elevator control believing he was on the ground and the airplane's nose wheel touched down on the runway and the airplane began to porpoise. The pilot attempted to ride out the ensuing oscillations, but they only worsened. The nose wheel broke off and the airplane drifted to the right side of the runway where it exited the paved surface. The nose landing gear strut dug into the dirt and the airplane nosed over.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.