Accident Details
On March 30, 2013, at approximately 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Van's Aircraft RV-12 light sport airplane (registration N572LS) was substantially damaged during the landing roll at Wakonda Beach State Airport (R33) in Waldport, Oregon. The airplane was operated by the private pilot, the sole occupant, under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal cross-country flight. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Lenhardt Airpark (7S9) in Hubbard, Oregon, at 1045 with R33 as the intended destination.
During landing to a full stop, the nose wheel contacted the grass runway surface and tucked under the airplane, separating from the structure. The airplane came to rest on the runway, leaving a long groove in the surface. Postaccident inspection by the pilot revealed damage to the propeller and nose landing gear assembly, as well as substantial damage to the lower forward fuselage.
Runway Evidence
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector documented and photographed the runway surface. Three impact marks were visible, consistent with the nose and main landing gears contacting the ground nearly simultaneously. From these marks, three discolored indentations extended for about 15 feet. The center indentation showed gouging and sharp parallel grooves that continued for approximately 140 feet. The impact marks originated beyond the midfield point of the runway.
Component and Data Examination
The nose landing gear fork assembly was sent to Van's Aircraft Company for examination. According to a company representative, no evidence of preimpact anomalies was found. Data from the FlightDEK-D180 electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) was downloaded and reviewed. The data indicated that during the initial touchdown, the airplane was in a flat or slightly negative pitch attitude, causing the nose landing gear to contact the runway first. The data also showed that the airplane landed at a high rate of speed. Van's Aircraft representatives noted that the data indicated no attempt to flare the airplane during landing. Further details are available in the examination report in the public docket.