Accident Overview
On October 9, 2018, about 1050 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Vans Aircraft Inc. RV-6A, registration N451JP, sustained substantial damage during a landing accident at Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The pilot was fatally injured, and the pilot-rated passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Witness and Passenger Accounts
A witness located at the airport reported that the airplane landed "a little long," then bounced "hard" upon touchdown, followed by two more bounces. Immediately after the third bounce, the nose landing gear folded backward, and the airplane nosed over. The passenger stated that the pilot mentioned he intended to land "a little faster" and not use flaps due to the wind. The passenger also reported that the pilot had difficulty straightening the airplane on the first touchdown. The airplane touched down on the right side of the runway, bounced "pretty high," then landed in a right crab before "shooting off the right side of the runway" and subsequently nosing over. The airplane came to rest about 1,750 feet from the approach end of runway 20 and about 25 feet to the right of the runway. These witness statements were consistent with onboard GPS data and airport surveillance video.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The pilot held an experimental aircraft builder repairman certificate and had completed the requirements of BasicMed. According to the kit manufacturer, the Pilot's Operating Handbook for an experimental amateur-built aircraft is the responsibility of the builder/owner, and reference speeds and crosswind limitations should be compiled from flight tests of each specific airplane.
Meteorological Conditions
At 1050, recorded weather at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport (CGI) included wind from 150° at 12 knots with gusts to 20 knots. Based on this observation, the crosswind component for landing on runway 20 was between about 9 knots and 15 knots, depending on the gust factor.
Examination Findings
All flight control surfaces remained attached, and flight control continuity was established. The elevator trim was in the neutral position and operated normally. The aileron trim was in the neutral position and operated normally. Examination of the brakes and tires revealed no anomalies. The engine and all accessories were present. The crankshaft was manually rotated, establishing rotational continuity. Thumb compression and suction were attained on all cylinders, and a borescope inspection showed normal operating signatures. The engine was run at various power settings with no anomalies noted.
Additional Information
The FAA Airplane Flying Handbook notes that when an airplane contacts the ground with a sharp impact due to an improper attitude or excessive rate of sink, it tends to bounce. Extreme caution is required when a bounce occurs, especially in crosswinds. The kit manufacturer's guidance recommends executing a go-around if a hard bounce occurs.