NTSB Factual Report

On April 5, 2005, about 1345 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Franz RV-6 airplane, N215CF, was substantially damaged when it departed the runway pavement and nosed over during landing rollout on runway 13 (4,300 feet by 75 feet, dry asphalt) at Livingston County Airport (OZW), Howell, Michigan. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The pilot-rated passenger sustained minor injuries. The local flight departed OZW approximately 1245.

In his written statement, the pilot reported that he entered the traffic pattern for landing on runway 13. He stated that a three-point landing was made on the centerline and at idle engine power. He noted that as the airplane passed a hangar off the right side of the runway the prevailing crosswind was reduced. The pilot stated: "I was slow getting the left rudder off [and] the plane went left slightly. [The airplane] got hit hard by [a] blast of wind coming off the east side of the hangar [and] the plane nosed slightly more left. I'd estimate we were down to 25-30 knots when the left main wheel left the runway [and] hit the soft sod. The nose went down -- the tail came up [and] blew over. The aircraft came to rest inverted."

Wind conditions recorded by the OZW Automated Weather Observing System, at 1340, were from 220 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 22 knots.

Flight control and tail wheel steering continuity were confirmed by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector during a post-accident examination.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout which resulted in the aircraft departing the runway pavement and nosing over. An additional cause was the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition. Contributing factors were the gusty crosswind and the soft grass.