N14QBHonda Aircraft HA-420 · 2018

On February 17, 2023, at 1116 central standard time, a Honda Aircraft HA-420 airplane, N14QB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), Houston, Texas. The pilot and five passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

Automated Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and data recovered from the onboard avionics provided airplane position, altitude, and speed information. Data downloaded from the airplane Central Maintenance Function (CMF) system provided information regarding the status of the onboard systems.

The flight departed Miami Executive Airport (TMB) at 0905 eastern standard time. Upon arrival into the Houston area, the pilot was provided radar vectors for an instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 4. The pilot was initially cleared to land; however, the tower controller instructed to the pilot to execute a go around due to another airplane on the runway. Following radar vectors for a second ILS approach to runway 4, the pilot was cleared to land and provided the current wind of 340° at 15 kts. About 2 minutes later, the tower controller issued the current wind information of 330° at 15 kts, gusting to 25 kts, to a departing airplane. The accident airplane was on a 3-mile final at that time.

As the airplane crossed the runway arrival threshold, the onboard avionics recorded an altitude of 86 ft mean sea level (msl) and 125 knots indicated airspeed (IAS). The published runway 4 threshold elevation was 42 ft. The corresponding landing reference speeds published in the airplane flight manual ranged from 100 knots IAS at a landing weight of 7,500 lbs to 111 knots IAS at a landing weight of 9,500 lbs. The exact landing weight for the accident airplane was not available.

The left and right weight-on-wheels (WOW) parameters transitioned from air to ground about 1116:02 consistent with initial touchdown. At that time, the airplane was about 2,000 ft from the runway arrival threshold. According to the onboard avionics, the indicated airspeed was about 108 knots, and the corresponding groundspeed was about 96 knots. The airplane tracked the runway centerline for about 4 seconds. Afterward, it drifted left and departed the pavement about 1116:09 at a groundspeed of about 75 knots. The airplane came to rest upright in the grass infield area about 150 ft north of the runway 4/runway 31L intersection. The outboard portion of the right wing was separated near midspan, and the landing gear collapsed.

The pilot reported that upon touchdown, he established the aileron controls into the wind and applied the brakes. However, no braking action was observed, and the airplane drifted off the left side of the runway. He also noted that the crosswind component was near the limitation for the airplane and that he made two requests with the approach controller to land on runway 31L. He stated that those requests were denied and was instructed to expect runway 4.

A detailed review of the CMF data files did not reveal any record of airplane system anomalies from the time the airplane lifted off until it touched down. Multiple system anomalies were recorded after the runway excursion consistent with airframe damage sustained during the accident sequence.

Further review of CMF data revealed that, after initial touchdown, the left WOW parameter transitioned from ground back to air about 2 seconds later. It then returned to ground about 1116:16 for the remainder of the data set. The right WOW parameter remained on ground until about 1116:10 when it returned to air for the remainder of the data set.

The airplane flight manual specified a crosswind limitation of 20 kts for takeoff and landing. Based on the most current wind information provided by the tower controller, the runway 4 crosswind component at the time of the accident was about 24 kts.

The airplane Pilot’s Operating Manual (POM) noted that the brake system touchdown protection is intended to inhibit brake application until wheel spin-up occurs. This is to prevent a pilot from inadvertently touching down with the brakes applied and the wheels locked. After weight-on-wheels has been true for three seconds, power braking is enabled with or without a wheel speed signal.

The airframe manufacturer noted that in addition to the weight-on-wheels condition, the touchdown protection will also be deactivated within one second if the average of the left and right wheel speed is at least 60 knots.

Additionally, the POM noted the brake system anti-skid protection and locked wheel crossover protection are available once touchdown protection is no longer active. The airplane is not equipped with engine thrust reversers or wing-mounted speed brakes. An aft fuselage-mounted speed brake is available; although, it is not automatically deployed on touchdown.

Air traffic control (ATC) tower (local control position) communications with the pilot were routine until the accident occurred. At the time, airplanes were landing on runway 4 and departing from runway 31L. A recording of communications between the pilot and terminal radar (TRACON) controller from a third-party source included multiple frequencies and some transmissions were not clearly recorded. As a result, no determination regarding any pilot request for an alternate runway due to the crosswind condition could be made.

FAA regulations stated that the pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft (14 CFR 91.3). Furthermore, the regulations state that no person may operate a civil aircraft without complying with the operating limitations specified in the approved Airplane Flight Manual (14 CFR 91.9).