Amateur-built RV8 accident near Hampton, Georgia, May 21, 2020
On May 21, 2020 at about 11:15 pm local time, a 2011 amateur-built RV8, registered N665HM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Hampton, Georgia (Henry County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A right main landing gear break malfunction during landing. Contributing to the accident was a worn right main landing gear caliper pin and pressure plate hole.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2020 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hampton, Georgia · Henry County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV8 Undesignat, built 2011
- Registration
- N665HM · no longer on the register · serial 82384
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the experimental, amateur-built tailwheel airplane was also the owner and maintained it as well. He stated that during landing, the right main wheel locked up and the airplane veered right. The pilot immediately released right brake pressure and increased left brake pressure, but the airplane continued to veer right off the right side of the runway and came to rest inverted in a grass area. The pilot subsequently examined the right brake under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The brake piston tested satisfactorily, and the pilot could not duplicate a brake locking event. He noted that one of the two caliper pins and one of the two pressure plate holes were worn beyond specification. The pilot added that the wear could cause the pressure plate to cock, or foreign object debris to enter, and cause unintended braking.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing
- Runway excursion during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Malfunction
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 28,784 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 74 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 11,000 as pilot in command; 850 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 24, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 443.9 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 1, 2019; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 444 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HMP Peachtree City GA at 10:50 pm
- Destination: HMP Hampton GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06, 5,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 11:15 pm from HMP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on August 27, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Interview Summaries | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.