Thursday, August 13, 2020

The Airplane Factory Sling LSA, N863SL: Accident occurred March 23, 2022 and Incident occurred August 12, 2020









Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Long Beach, California

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

Aviation Financial Corp


Location: Torrance, California
Accident Number: WPR22LA135
Date and Time: March 23, 2022, 10:45 Local
Registration: N863SL
Aircraft: AIRPLANE FACTORY (PTY) LTD SLING LSA
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

Analysis

The flight instructor of the airplane reported that, during an instructional flight with a student flight instructor, he purposely “flared too much and a little too high.” The intent was for the student flight instructor to correct; however, he did not intervene. The flight instructor added full power to abort the landing when the airplane encountered a shift from a headwind to a right quartering tailwind and the airplane drifted to the right. While maneuvering the airplane to stay over the runway, the left aileron struck a runway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left aileron. The flight instructor 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 flight instructor’s loss of airplane control during an aborted landing due to a wind shift, which resulted in an impact with a runway sign.

Findings

Aircraft Directional control - Not attained/maintained
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Instructor/check pilot
Environmental issues Sudden wind shift - Effect on operation
Environmental issues Sign/marker - Effect on equipment

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing-flare/touchdown Loss of control in flight (Defining event)

Flight instructor Information

Certificate: Commercial; Flight instructor 
Age: 26,Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-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 single-engine
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: September 25, 2018
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: December 7, 2021
Flight Time: (Estimated) 1850 hours (Total, all aircraft), 350 hours (Total, this make and model), 1750 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 120 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 30 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 4 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Student pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial 
Age: 36,Male
Airplane Rating(s): 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:
Medical Certification: Class 1 With waivers/limitations 
Last FAA Medical Exam: May 21, 2021
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: February 25, 2022
Flight Time: (Estimated) 233 hours (Total, all aircraft), 232 hours (Total, this make and model), 136.8 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 43.6 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 10.6 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1.5 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: AIRPLANE FACTORY (PTY) LTD 
Registration: N863SL
Model/Series: SLING LSA
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2019
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental light sport (Special)
Serial Number: 302
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle 
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: March 17, 2022 100 hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1320 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 31 Hrs 
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2872 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Rotax
ELT: C126 installed, not activated 
Engine Model/Series: 912IS
Registered Owner: 
Rated Power: 100 Horsepower
Operator: 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC) 
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KTOA,97 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 10:47 Local 
Direction from Accident Site: 221°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None 
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: / 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.14 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 27°C / 7°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Torrance, CA (KTOA) 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Torrance, CA
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 09:30 Local
Type of Airspace: Class D

Airport Information

Airport: Zamperini Field Airport TOA 
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt; Concrete
Airport Elevation: 103 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 29L 
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3000 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full stop

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: Aircraft
Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 33.803383,-118.3396


Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Long Beach, California

August 12, 2020: Aircraft landed and nose gear collapsed at Zamperini Field Airport (KTOA), Torrance, Los Angeles County, California.

Sling Pilot Academy

Airplane Factory Inc

Date: 12-AUG-20
Time: 23:10:00Z
Regis#: N863SL
Aircraft Make: AIRPLANE FACTORY
Aircraft Model: SLING LSA
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: TORRANCE
State: CALIFORNIA

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