N522PC Morehead KR-2 accident

On September 2, 2010, about 0945 Pacific daylight time, an amateur built Morehead KR-2 experimental airplane, N522PC, was substantially damaged following a bounced landing and loss of control at the Rancho Murieta Airport (RIU), Rancho Murieta, California. The first pilot, who occupied the left seat, was seriously injured, and the second pilot, who occupied the right seat sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the first pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight. The flight departed RIU about 0940.

In a statement submitted to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the first pilot reported that on the day prior to the accident he flew the airplane from the right seat doing touch-and-go landings while the second pilot occupied the left seat. The first pilot revealed that on the day of the accident he again flew from the right seat, did nine landings, and again the second pilot occupied the left seat; after a short break they switched seats. On the first landing attempt from the left seat, the first pilot reported that he was a little fast and high on final, which resulted in a go-around, and that the next approach was “much better,” but he bounced the landing “pitching my nose high.” The first pilot added that he [added] full power to go around, but when he lowered the nose to build up speed he overcorrected and hit the runway with the nose wheel, which caused the nose gear to collapse and the propeller to strike the runway. The pilot added that the airplane skidded down the runway before going off the left side and nosing over.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector reported that the airplane had sustained substantial damage to the firewall and the rudder. No preimpact anomalies were reported that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.