On 13 Nov 2015, a SWEENEY TIMOTHY J RANS S6-ES was involved in an aviation accident near Winter Haven, FL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's distraction due to a radio report about a coyote and his subsequent premature lowering of the nose wheel. This summary draws on records from NTSB.
During an intentional grass landing beside an asphalt runway, the pilot bounced slightly, became distracted by a radio report of a coyote, and lowered the nose wheel prematurely, causing the nose gear to collapse and the airplane to nose over.
Accident Details
A pilot reported an accident that occurred during an intentional landing on a grass surface parallel to an asphalt runway. The pilot stated that the touchdown was fast, resulting in a slight bounce. Immediately after the bounce, the pilot became distracted when another pilot transmitted a radio warning about a coyote crossing the runway.
Pilot Report
In his report, the pilot indicated that as a result of this distraction, he "let the nose wheel down too early and too quickly." This action caused the nose landing gear to collapse, and the airplane subsequently nosed over. The pilot explicitly noted that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Damage
The vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage during the nose-over event. No other damage details were provided in the report.
Probable cause
The pilot's distraction due to a radio report about a coyote and his subsequent premature lowering of the nose wheel.