Chatham Robert M RV6-A N55EC

Summary

On 9 June 2009 at about 23:15 local time, a Chatham Robert M RV6-A registered N55EC was involved in an accident near Gilbert, South Carolina, 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

9 June 2009 at 23:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Gilbert, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Whiteplains Airport (SC99)

Coordinates

33.9639, -81.3592

Aircraft

Chatham Robert M RV6-A

Registration

N55EC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gilbert → Gilbert

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09CA333

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the airspeed indicator that became inoperative during the landing approach.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he was conducting an initial flight test in the traffic pattern at the local airport. During the approach to land, he noticed that the airspeed indicator was not working properly. He attempted to maintain a correct approach speed, but stated that he may have been going to fast. During the landing, the airplane floated down the runway. The pilot applied brake pressure, but then the airplane drifted off the left side of the runway. The nose wheel contacted a rock in a drainage area which resulted in the airplane flipping over. The propeller, fuselage, canopy, and tail section incurred damage. Postaccident examination of the airspeed indicator by the pilot revealed the tubing separated from the pressure port.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.