Monday, May 06, 2019

Hard Landing: Flight Design CTLS, N175LM; accident occurred May 05, 2019 at Sky Ranch Airport (3L2), Sandy Valley, Clark County, Nevada

View of damaged fuselage in situ. 




Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Las Vegas, Nevada

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

https://registry.faa.gov/N175LM

Location: Sandy Valley, NV 
Accident Number: GAA19CA242
Date & Time: 05/05/2019, 0800 PDT
Registration: N175LM
Aircraft: Flight Design CTLS
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Hard landing
Injuries:2 None 
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional

Analysis 

The pilot reported that, during a biennial flight review, the flight instructor told him to expect a simulated engine failure during takeoff and an engine-out approach to a perpendicular runway. After departure and about 400 ft above ground level (agl), the instructor reduced power, and the pilot turned left to land on the perpendicular runway. He overshot the runway, banked to 40°, and felt a "strong sink." He leveled the wings and added full power about 150 to 200 ft agl, but the airplane continued to descend. The instructor stated he considered taking the flight controls, but the pilot maintained control. The airplane landed hard, the right main landing gear (MLG) struck a hole, the airplane veered right, and the left MLG separated.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's steep bank turn at low altitude, which resulted in a rapid descent and hard landing.

Findings

Aircraft
Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing
Landing area overshoot
Hard landing (Defining event)
Landing gear collapse
Part(s) separation from AC

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport; Sport Pilot
Age: 67, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Sport Pilot
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot:No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 05/05/2019
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 24500 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1000 hours (Total, this make and model), 10000 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 25 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 5 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0.5 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Flight Instructor Information

Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial; Military
Age: 80, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Multi-engine; Airplane Single-engine
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 11/13/2017
Occupational Pilot:Yes 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 11/13/2017
Flight Time: (Estimated) 12000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 10000 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 20 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 10 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Flight Design
Registration: N175LM
Model/Series: CTLS Undesignated
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2012
Amateur Built:No 
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental Light Sport
Serial Number: F-12-03-10
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 10/29/2018, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1320 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 491 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Rotax
ELT: Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: 912 ULS
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 100 hp
Operator:On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KHND, 2458 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 26 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1456 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 65°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 10 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 220°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.79 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 22°C / 1°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Sandy Valley, NV (3L2)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Sandy Valley, NV (3L2)
Type of Clearance:None 
Departure Time: 0720 PDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: SKY RANCH (3L2)
Runway Surface Type: Dirt
Airport Elevation:2599 ft 
Runway Surface Condition: Dry; Holes; Rough; Vegetation
Runway Used: 12
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3300 ft / 105 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Simulated Forced Landing

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude:  35.793611, -115.626667 (est)

Location: Sandy Valley, NV

Accident Number: GAA19CA242
Date & Time: 05/05/2019, 0800 PDT
Registration: N175LM
Aircraft: Flight Design CTLS
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Landing area overshoot
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional 

The pilot reported that, during a biennial flight review, he was briefed by the flight instructor to expect a simulated engine failure during takeoff and an engine-out approach to a perpendicular runway. He departed runway 21, and about 400 ft above ground, reduced power and turned left for the dirt runway 12. He overshot the dirt runway, banked to 40°, and felt a "strong sink." He leveled the wings and added full power about 150 to 200 ft, but the airplane continued to descend. The instructor stated he considered taking the flight controls, but the pilot maintained control. The airplane landed hard, the right main landing gear struck a "rabbit hole", the airplane veered right, and the left main landing gear separated.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The automated weather observation station located about 26 miles to the east reported that, about 4 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 220° at 10 knots, temperature 72°F, dew point 34°F, altimeter setting 29.79" Hg. The pilot reported that the wind was variable at 5 to 15 knots, gusting to greater than 15 knots, temperature 80°F. The pilot added that there was severe windshear and, later in the day, the assistant airport manager reported observing a dust devil over the accident site.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport; Sport Pilot
Age: 67, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Sport Pilot
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 05/05/2019
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 24500 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1000 hours (Total, this make and model), 10000 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 25 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 5 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0.5 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Flight Instructor Information

Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial; Military
Age: 80, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Multi-engine; Airplane Single-engine
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 11/13/2017
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 11/13/2017
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 12000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 10000 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 20 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 10 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Flight Design
Registration: N175LM
Model/Series: CTLS Undesignated
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2012
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental Light Sport
Serial Number: F-12-03-10
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 10/29/2018, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1320 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 491 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Rotax
ELT: Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: 912 ULS
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 100 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KHND, 2458 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 26 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1456 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 65°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 10 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 220°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.79 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 22°C / 1°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Sandy Valley, NV (3L2)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Sandy Valley, NV (3L2)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0720 PDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: SKY RANCH (3L2)
Runway Surface Type: Dirt
Airport Elevation: 2599 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry; Holes; Rough; Vegetation
Runway Used: 12
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3300 ft / 105 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Simulated Forced Landing

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 35.793611, -115.626667 (est)

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