Michael Cans RV-8 N610EC

Summary

On 14 October 2011 at about 20:45 local time, a Michael Cans RV-8 registered N610EC, operated by Charles Dupuis, Jr., was involved in an accident near Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, 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

14 October 2011 at 20:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Dupuis (LA41)

Coordinates

30.3094, -91.9378

Aircraft

Michael Cans RV-8

Registration

N610EC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Charles Dupuis, Jr.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Opelousas → Breaux Bridge

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12CA027

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane after striking an unseen sinkhole during landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the landing roll at a private airstrip, the airplane struck a sinkhole and bounced 10 to 15 feet in the air. The pilot added power to cushion the next touchdown, but the airplane drifted to the left and entered tall grass on the side of the runway; the landing gear separated and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the composite bulkhead. The airplane slid approximately 150 feet before coming to a stop on its belly. The pilot said that he did not see the sinkhole. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.