Hilton Head Island Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hilton Head, South Carolina 29926
Sunday, February 12, 2012 17:52 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that there was a crosswind from the left of about 9 knots during the landing. After touchdown, the airplane swerved to the left and exited the left side of the runway. The airplane traveled over a grass median between the runway and a taxiway and the airplane's nosewheel separated as it traveled over a dip in the median. The airplane came to rest upright and sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. He stated that the airport was surrounded by trees and that it was not uncommon to experience dramatically changing wind conditions near the runway. A postaccident examination revealed skid marks on the runway leading to the grass median, but the pilot could not recall whether he applied brakes during the accident sequence. An examination of the brake system revealed no anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing with a crosswind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/12/2012
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1752
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Hilton Head
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29926
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 321217N
Event Location Longitude 0804131W
Event Location Airport Hilton Head Island Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HXD
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 19
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1750 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID HXD
Elevation of weather observation facility 19
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30071
NTSB Notification Source FAA SROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 29 2012 9:58AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4851W
NTSB Number ERA12CA177
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL
Aircraft Model 114
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 14181
Certified Max Gross Weight 3140
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 1 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3255
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name COMMANDER 114 CORP
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Hilton Head Island
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29926
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name COMMANDER 114 CORP
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Hilton Head Island
Operator State SC
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 29926
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LZU
Departure City Lawrenceville
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code HXD
Destination City Hilton Head
Destination State SC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 29 2012 9:58AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 4300
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --