Skykits SAVANNAH VGW N472WM

Summary

On 7 June 2014 at about 15:30 local time, a Skykits SAVANNAH VGW registered N472WM, operated by Maykuth Gerald S, was involved in an accident near Helena, Montana, 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

7 June 2014 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Helena, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Silver Creek Airport (40MT)

Coordinates

46.7033, -112.0683

Aircraft

Skykits SAVANNAH VGW

Registration

N472WM

Category

Airplane

Year built

2011

Engines

1

Operator

Maykuth Gerald S

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Helena → Helena

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR14LA238

Nobody was injured.

The overload failure of the nosewheel fork retaining bolts during landing, which resulted in a nose-over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the experimental, light sport aircraft reported that he was conducting touch-and-go landings and takeoffs at his private, turf-covered airstrip. During the seventh landing, the nosewheel folded back, the shaft dug into the ground, and the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizer. Two of the four 1/4-inch-diameter bolts holding the nosewheel fork to the shaft were found sheared. The bolts appeared to have sheared under tension, indicating that an overload failure had occurred. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.