Frederick Hays-Roth VELOCITY TWIN N360VT

Summary

On 2 June 2014 at about 21:00 local time, a Frederick Hays-Roth VELOCITY TWIN registered N360VT, operated by Bay Area Air LLC, was involved in an accident near Sebastian, Florida, United States. One person was 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

2 June 2014 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Sebastian, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Sebastian Muni (X26)

Coordinates

27.8133, -80.4956

Aircraft

Frederick Hays-Roth VELOCITY TWIN

Registration

N360VT

Category

Airplane

Year built

2014

Operator

Bay Area Air LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sebastian → Sebastian

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14LA279

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing. Also causal to the accident were the pilot’s subsequent delayed decision to abort the landing and his improper execution of the aborted landing, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot/owner reported that he accompanied the chief pilot of the airplane kit manufacturer on operational ground and flight tests of the airplane following the installation of a rebuilt left propeller. The tests were "normal," and the chief pilot deplaned. The pilot then serviced the airplane with fuel and departed to perform three solo takeoffs and landings. On the third takeoff, the airplane pulled left and required hard right rudder to maintain runway alignment. When the airplane was about traffic pattern altitude, the pilot noted a 1,200-rpm difference between the left and right engines; the left engine was producing 1,400 rpm, and the right engine was producing 2,600 rpm. While flying the remainder of the traffic pattern, the pilot attempted to troubleshoot and get the rpm on the two engines to match until he was on final approach to the runway. The pilot reduced the engine power to idle as the airplane crossed the runway threshold, and the airplane "floated awhile" before touching down and subsequently bouncing again. The pilot stated that, during the second touchdown, the left wing lifted "due to the crosswind from the left" and that he had inadequate speed to control the airplane. The pilot chose to abort the landing after the second bounce when the airplane was at a 45-degree, nose-high attitude. Both engines accelerated to full power, but the airplane collided with the runway, and both main landing gear and propellers were separated. Examination of the propeller assembly revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies, and all noted damage was consistent with impact and overstress.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.