Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Loss of Control on Ground: Zenith STOL CH 701, N8436S; accident occurred February 24, 2019 at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI), Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois -and- Incident occurred September 29, 2018

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Springfield, Illinois

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/N8436S

Location: Springfield, IL
Accident Number: GAA19CA149
Date & Time: 02/24/2019, 1400 CST
Registration: N8436S
Aircraft: Zenair ZENITH STOL CH 701
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Flight Test 

Analysis 

The pilot reported that, after landing, while taxiing in gusting wind conditions, the airplane flipped over and came to rest inverted. He added that, a few minutes after the airplane was righted, it flipped over again.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and fuselage.

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

The airport's automated weather observation system reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 270° at 27 knots, gusting to 41 knots.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's improper crosswind correction during taxi operations in gusting crosswind conditions. 

Findings

Aircraft
Crosswind correction - Not attained/maintained (Cause)

Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)

Environmental issues
Crosswind - Effect on operation
Gusts - Effect on operation

Factual Information

History of Flight

Taxi-from runway
Other weather encounter
Loss of control on ground (Defining event)
Roll over

Pilot Information

Certificate: Flight Instructor; Private
Age: 38, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Sport Pilot
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 12/21/2015
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 01/27/2019
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 606 hours (Total, all aircraft), 36 hours (Total, this make and model), 523 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 47 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 17 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Zenair
Registration: N8436S
Model/Series: ZENITH STOL CH 701 No Series
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2018
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 7-10826
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection:  Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1320 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 37 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: ULPower Aero Engines
ELT: Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: UL260
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 97 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: KSPI, 613 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1352 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 296°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility:  9 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 2400 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 27 knots / 41 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / Terrain-Induced
Wind Direction: 270°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / Light
Altimeter Setting: 29.82 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: -1°C / -4°C
Precipitation and Obscuration:  No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Springfield, IL (SPI)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Springfield, IL (SPI)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1300 CST
Type of Airspace: Class C

Airport Information

Airport: ABRAHAM LINCOLN CAPITAL (SPI)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 597 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 31
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 7400 ft / 150 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop; Traffic Pattern 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude:  39.841667, -89.675000 (est)

September 29, 2018: Landed in a field.


Date: 29-SEP-18
Time: 19:51:00Z
Regis#: N8436S
Aircraft Make: EXPERIMENTAL
Aircraft Model: ZENITH STOL CH 701
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: NONE
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: SPRINGFIELD
State: ILLINOIS

No comments:

Post a Comment