Loss of Control in Flight: Flight Design CTSW, N153SW; accident occurred May 19, 2019 at Blairsville Airport (KDZJ), Union County, Georgia

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket

White Falcon LLC

https://registry.faa.gov/N153SW 

Location: Blairsville, Georgia 

Accident Number: GAA19CA373

Date & Time: May 19, 2019, 13:00 Local

Registration: N153SW

Aircraft: Flight Design CTSW

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Defining Event: Loss of control in flight 

Injuries: 2 None

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis

The pilot reported that, while on approach for landing on runway 26, the wind was reported to be from 240º at 8 knots. One second later, the wind shifted and was from 180º at 6 knots. The pilot flew the final approach with a left crosswind and crossed the threshold at 50 knots. As he leveled the airplane and was about to touch down at 45 knots, the airplane lifted about 7 ft, and the nose pitched up 20º. The pilot pushed the control stick forward and began to add power, but the airplane "violently slammed" onto the runway, and the left main landing gear collapsed. He added full right rudder and aileron to keep the airplane on the runway, but it veered left into tall grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and engine mount.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during landing in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and landing gear collapse. 

Findings

Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot

Aircraft (general) - Not attained/maintained

Environmental issues Gusts - Effect on operation

Environmental issues Crosswind - Effect on operation

Factual Information

History of Flight

Approach-VFR pattern final Other weather encounter

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

Landing-flare/touchdown Attempted remediation/recovery

Landing-flare/touchdown Hard landing

Landing-flare/touchdown Landing gear collapse

Landing-flare/touchdown Loss of control on ground

Landing-flare/touchdown Runway excursion

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private 

Age: 70, Male

Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land 

Seat Occupied: Left

Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 

Restraint Used: Unknown

Instrument Rating(s): None

Second Pilot Present: No

Instructor Rating(s): None

Toxicology Performed: No

Medical Certification: Class 3 With waivers/limitations

Last FAA Medical Exam: August 1, 2010

Occupational Pilot: No 

Last Flight Review or Equivalent:

Flight Time: (Estimated)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Flight Design 

Registration: N153SW

Model/Series: CTSW No Series

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Year of Manufacture: 2007

Amateur Built: No

Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental light sport (Special)

Serial Number: 07-06-10

Landing Gear Type: Tricycle 

Seats: 2

Date/Type of Last Inspection: Unknown 

Certified Max Gross Wt.:

Time Since Last Inspection:

Engines: Reciprocating

Airframe Total Time: 

Engine Manufacturer: Rotax

ELT: 

Engine Model/Series: 912 ULS

Registered Owner: 

Rated Power:

Operator: 

Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC) 

Condition of Light: Day

Observation Facility, Elevation: KDZJ,1909 ft msl

Distance from Accident Site: 

1 Nautical Miles

Observation Time: 16:55 Local

Direction from Accident Site: 111°

Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 5000 ft AGL 

Visibility: 10 miles

Lowest Ceiling:

Visibility (RVR):

Wind Speed/Gusts: 9 knots / 14 knots

Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None

Wind Direction: 200° 

Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A

Altimeter Setting: 30.09 inches Hg 

Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C / 15°C

Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation

Departure Point: Sanford, NC (TTA)

Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR

Destination: Hazel Green, AL (M38)

Type of Clearance: VFR flight following

Departure Time: 

Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Blairsville DZJ

Runway Surface Type: Asphalt

Airport Elevation: 1907 ft msl 

Runway Surface Condition: Dry

Runway Used: 26

IFR Approach: None

Runway Length/Width: 5004 ft / 100 ft

VFR Approach/Landing: Full stop

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries: 1 None 

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: N/A 

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 2 None

Latitude, Longitude: 34.854442,-83.997222(est)