Amateur-built Rans S-6S accident near St. Cloud, Minnesota, November 17, 2010
On November 17, 2010 at about 10:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Rans S-6S, registered N280JH, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Cloud, Minnesota (St. Cloud Regional Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane kit manufacturer’s recommended use of an improper nut type for securing the door hinge.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 2010 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- St. Cloud, Minnesota · St. Cloud Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Rans S-6S
- Registration
- N280JH · registry record · serial 12051716
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while practicing touch-and-go landings he noticed that the nut from the forward door hinge of the left cabin door was missing. He decided to make a full stop landing to inspect further. During final approach, the door separated from the fuselage; the pilot was able to complete the landing without further incident. A postaccident examination confirmed that the forward door hinge bolt/nut assembly had backed-off during flight, which precipitated the door separating from the airplane. The airplane kit manufacturer guidance indicated that a shear stop nut was to be used in the gull-wing (upward opening) door hinge assemblies. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advises (in Advisory Circular 43.13-1B) that self-locking nuts, such as the type used on the accident airplane door, are not recommended for use on parts subject to rotation. The FAA further advises that the use of self-locking castellated nuts with cotter pins or lockwire is a more suitable method to secure rotating parts. According to the kit manufacturer, the accident flight was the first documented instance where a door separated during flight.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- 508338 during 508
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Doors › Passenger/crew doors › Malfunction
Pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea, none, APLN, none
- Flight time: 399 hours in all; 163 in this make and model; 76 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 379 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 24, 2009
- Medical certificate: class 1
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, ASE, APLN, none
- Flight time: 1,024 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 921 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 2, 2009
- Medical certificate: class 1
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 219 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 23, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Airflight, LLC.
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: KSTC St. Cloud MN at 9:30 pm
- Destination: KSTC St. Cloud MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 32°C, dew point 23°C
- Altimeter: 30.219999 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from KSTC, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN11LA077.