Hughes J/Hughes J RAND-ROBINSON N128JH

Summary

On 29 October 2010 at about 18:23 local time, a Hughes J/Hughes J RAND-ROBINSON registered N128JH was involved in an accident near Pearland, Texas, 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

29 October 2010 at 18:23

Classification

Accident

Location

Pearland, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Pearland Regional Airport (LVJ)

Coordinates

29.5194, -95.2386

Aircraft

Hughes J/Hughes J RAND-ROBINSON

Registration

N128JH

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pearland → Pearland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11CA046

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was an engine oil leak which partially obscured the pilot’s forward vision.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot/builder was making the first flight of the experimental single engine airplane after having completed several high-speed taxi tests and ground runs of the engine. Shortly after becoming airborne and during the initial climb, the pilot began to notice oil on the windshield. He returned to the airport to land by which time the oil film was significantly reducing his forward visibility and he had difficulty judging his height above the ground. During the landing the airplane touched down hard and bounced. On the second touchdown both main landing gear legs collapsed and penetrated through the top surfaces of the wings. The pilot stated that he was unable to determine the source of the engine oil leak.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.