Summary
On January 14, 2018, a Harrop Blake RV 7 (N4163B) was involved in an accident near Death Valley National Park, CA. The accident resulted in 2 minor injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the landing flare, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
The pilot reported that, during the landing flare, about 2 to 3 ft. above the ground, he reduced power and the airplane aerodynamically stalled. The airplane landed hard, bounced, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest inverted.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the canopy and empennage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
This accident is documented in NTSB report GAA18CA103. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N4163B.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the landing flare, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during the landing flare, about 2 to 3 ft. above the ground, he reduced power and the airplane aerodynamically stalled. The airplane landed hard, bounced, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest inverted.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the canopy and empennage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA18CA103