Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Denver, Colorado
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Edge Aircraft LLC
Location: Englewood, Colorado
Accident Number: CEN20CA332
Date & Time: August 8, 2020, 11:00 Local
Registration: N4964S
Aircraft: Piper PA28R
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional
Analysis
The flight instructor was demonstrating a short approach and touch-and-go landing to the student pilot in a complex airplane. During the final approach, the flight instructor was unable to correct for a quartering tailwind and the airplane landed sideways on the left main landing gear. The flight instructor stated that
"[the landing] felt a bit unusual, but the approach had been stable and the landing wasn't that bad..." The airplane took off and the landing gear would not retract. After troubleshooting the problem and declaring an emergency, the flight instructor landed the airplane with an unsafe landing gear indication. After touchdown, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the flight instructor lost directional control. The airplane impacted taxiway lights and came to rest upright adjacent to the runway. Postaccident examination showed the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Further examination of the left main landing gear and wing revealed overload damage to the landing gear wing attachment. 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 did not maintain a proper approach path and landing flare during a landing with a tailwind, which resulted in a hard landing and damaged landing gear. During the subsequent landing with damaged landing gear, the flight instructor lost directional control which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with objects.
Findings
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Instructor/check pilot
Aircraft Descent/approach/glide path - Not attained/maintained
Aircraft Landing flare - Not attained/maintained
Environmental issues Tailwind - Effect on operation
Aircraft Directional control - Not attained/maintained
Environmental issues Runway/taxi/approach light - Effect on operation
Factual Information
History of Flight
Approach-VFR pattern final Other weather encounter
Landing-flare/touchdown Hard landing
Landing-flare/touchdown Landing gear collapse
Landing-flare/touchdown Loss of control on ground (Defining event)
Landing-flare/touchdown Runway excursion
Landing-flare/touchdown Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Flight Instructor Information
Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial
Age: 43, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Single-engine; Instrument Airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 05/01/2019
Occupational Pilot:
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 06/15/2020
Flight Time: 1428 hours (Total, all aircraft), 140 hours (Total, this make and model), 1381 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 371 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 104 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 5 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Student Pilot Information
Certificate: None
Age: 20, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 04/05/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 230 hours (Total, all aircraft), 0 hours (Total, this make and model), 136 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 67 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 27 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N4964S
Model/Series: PA28R 200
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1970
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 28R-35684
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 06/11/2020, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2600 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 28 Hours
Engines: Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3816 Hours
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-360-C1C
Registered Owner: Edge Aircraft Llc
Rated Power: 200 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: APA, 5885 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 0853 MDT
Direction from Accident Site: 0°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 4 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 240°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.19 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 27°C / -4°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Precipitation
Departure Point: Englewood, CO (APA)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Englewood, CO (APA)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 0952 MDT
Type of Airspace: Class D
Airport Information
Airport: Centennial Airport (APA)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 5885 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 17L
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 10001 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Touch and Go
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: 39.574444, -104.852222 (est)
'Student' held a Private Certificate at the time, with a 3rd Class medical.
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