Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Orlando, Florida
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
My Way Aviation LLC
American Flight Training LLC
doing business as Wayman Aviation Academy
Location: Hollywood, Florida
Accident Number: ERA20CA225
Date & Time: June 23, 2020, 09:45 Local
Registration: N5314M
Aircraft: Cessna 152
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Abnormal runway contact
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional
Analysis
The solo student pilot reported that during the first landing of the traffic pattern flight, the airplane "landed flat" and bounced. He believed he "could remedy" the landing, however, after three bounces, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane veered off the runway into grass. The left wing and engine mounts sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The student pilot's improper landing flare, and failure to recover from the ensuing bounced landing, which resulted in a subsequent nose landing gear collapse.
Findings
Aircraft Landing flare - Incorrect use/operation
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Student/instructed pilot
Factual Information
History of Flight
Landing-flare/touchdown Abnormal runway contact (Defining event)
Landing Landing gear collapse
Student pilot Information
Certificate: Student
Age: 22, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
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: January 3, 2020
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 54 hours (Total, all aircraft), 54 hours (Total, this make and model), 2 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 24 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 8 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N5314M
Model/Series: 152 No Series
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1980
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 15284528
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: June 15, 2020 100 hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1670 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-235
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 160 Horsepower
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Pilot school (141)
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: HWO,8 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 09:48 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 0°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 7 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 160°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.06 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point:
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Hollywood, FL (HWO)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Hollywood, FL (HWO)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 09:40 Local
Type of Airspace: Class C
Airport Information
Airport: North Perry HWO
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 8 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 10R
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3255 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Touch and go;Traffic pattern
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 26.001111,-80.240837(est)
Perhaps it's just me - does he say that the ASI wasn't working so he thought he'd have another attempt?
ReplyDeleteIt came unstuck after not working on the first roll, so no more worry, went for another go. Might have to knuckle-tap the ASI glass and keep it freed up next time...
DeleteGood grief. Yet another 50+ hour student solo making a basic airmanship error when he should already have his PPL. Did I miss something over the past three decades since I was a 19 year old 45 hour freshly minted PPL like others and today's students just can't pick it up at the same pace?
ReplyDeleteNailed it! In the 70s had my licence in 35 hrs including a 172/Warrior checkout!
DeleteNot sure about this operation, but a lot of the South Florida schools are pulling students from India and China. The language gap often adds time, but I imagine there's more pressure to push students through rather than telling them they're not cut out for it and sending them back.
DeleteYep but it's not just SoFL. I'm in metro Atlanta and my home GA airport of KPDK has a lot of foreign students and not just from Asia/India (well pre-Covid the last I heard anyway). So the question remains if the language barrier slows up the training, and it does happen, then perhaps these flight schools need to have a litmus test of sorts for English proficiency before accepting a student into flight training. I mean English is the only official international language for ATC communications so that should be mastered before even stepping in a cockpit for a first lesson. ATC personnel and we pilots communicate fast over the radio in busy airspace and for good reason. This has to be extra difficult for a foreigner who only recently learned basic English.
Delete