It's official - Rabbit kills RV-6A

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by NTSB

NTSB Identification: ATL06LA052.
The docket is stored in the Docket Management System (DMS). Please contact Records Management Division
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, March 13, 2006 in Mooresville, NC
Probable Cause Approval Date: 12/28/2006
Aircraft: E Newton Newton RV-6A, registration: N57ME
Injuries: 1 Minor.
On March 13, 2006, at 1045 eastern standard time, an E&M Newton RV-6A, N57ME, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, nosed over during landing roll at Miller Airpark, Mooresville, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airline transport rated pilot reported minor injuries and the airplane received substantial damage. The flight originated from the Miller Airpark, Mooresville, North Carolina, on March 13, 2006, at 1000.

The pilot stated that he made a normal approach to runway 36, which is a 2,000-foot smooth grass runway. During the touchdown the airplane skipped slightly and then touched down normally. The pilot stated that during the roll out everything was normal until the nose started to drop. He applied full up elevator but could not arrest the descent of the nose. The airplane slid approximately 40 feet and then nosed over inverted. After he exited the airplane and examined the nose gear he found that the nose gear was bent aft. Further examination revealed that there was a dead rabbit just prior to where the nose gear started making a trench in the grass. The airplane came to a stop in the center of the runway with approximately 900 feet remaining on the runway. The pilot did not report any malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident.

Examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector revealed the first ground scar was 1,000 feet from the approach end of runway 36. Within the first three feet of the ground scar there was a 15-inch long lifeless rabbit. The airplane came to rest inverted on the canopy facing south, 1,180 feet from the approach end of runway 36.

The nose landing gear was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board materials laboratory for further examination. The wheel was removed, dissembled, and no mechanical defects were noted during the examination. Due to the reported animal impact of the nose landing gear, a swab was taken from the inside wheel fairing. A phenolphthalein presumptive blood test was performed on the swab, and the result was positive for blood.

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...09X00527&key=1

Kind of funny they actually tested the gear for blood.

What would you call that rabbit? It can't be road kill, maybe runway kill?

[Jerry Carter]

That was on harey landing! I saw a coyote a few hundred feet north of our runway a week or so ago when I was on final. Watch out for critters!

[the_other_dougreeves]

Sounds like it's time to call Wallace & Gromit and get the BunVac 6000.

[airguy]

I had to abort a landing at dusk in a 172 due to a 6-point buck standing on the runway several years ago. I didn't spot him until I was deep into the flare and inches above the pavement. I firewalled the throttle as I touched down, rolled for maybe 100 feet, then lifted off again, I probably cleared him by 10 or 15 feet, not much more.

I'd hate to see what Bambi would do to Cessna.....

[mburch]

That's no ordinary rabbit!

mcb

[az_gila]

Originally Posted by airguy

....

I'd hate to see what Bambi would do to Cessna.....

Bambi did this to a Grumman Tiger...

http://rob.com/rob/hunt.html

gil in Tucson

[joeboisselle]

Originally Posted by mburch

That's no ordinary rabbit!

mcb

Only the holy hand grenade of antioch...

Wow, I was expecting a nosedragger vs. taildragger war to have started by now.

[mcphersn]

OK,
Time to drag out the heavy weapons. My personal count for go-arounds at Cascabel: (1) Two (2) desert tortoises on the first 500 feet of runway simultaneously, (2) One mountain lion on the non-existent numbers, (3) More javelinas, coyotes, deer, and quail than this aging boy can count...

Miller McPherson
RV-6, 800+ hours

[Michael White]

Originally Posted by mburch

That's no ordinary rabbit!

mcb

They need to check the rabbit again...
"It's only a flesh wound..."

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by Michael White

They need to check the rabbit again...
"It's only a flesh wound..."

It has thingies it does, and can jump long distances...