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CEN11CA046

2010-10-29 · Pearland, Texas, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport LVJ

Current FAA registration · N128JH

Make / Model
HUGHES J/HUGHES J RAND ROBINSON KR2
Year of manufacture
2010 · 0 years old at event
Engine
REVMASTER 2100 (65 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20100830
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A0723A

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

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.

Factual narrative

The pilot, who was the builder of the experimental single engine airplane, was making the first flight after having completed several high-speed taxi tests and ground runs of the engine. The pilot stated that shortly after becoming airborne and during the initial climb, he began to notice oil on the windshield. When he returned to the airport for landing the oil 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 solo pilot was not injured. Two weeks after the accident the pilot said he still had not been able to determine the source of the engine oil leak. 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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent/approach/glide path-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Lack of action-Pilot - C
  • F Aircraft-Aircraft power plant-Engine (reciprocating)-Recip eng oil sys-Malfunction - F
  • F Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Obscuration-Contributed to outcome - F

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2010_CEN11CA046.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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