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)
Here we go again. Another 50+ hour student pilot with just a few hours of solo time and STILL can't get a landing right. This is probably the 6th record on KR just this year reading about a high/low time student pilot (high time by student PPL hours - 54 hours, low time by student solo hours - 2 hours). Someone mentioned a few times who was from Florida that these are likely foreign national students struggling to "get it" in primary aviation training. With the reports of pilot shortages around the world this is damn scary. At some point you are either going to be skilled enough to learn or you are not. I'd cut someone from the program after 40 hours who still can't get a landing right in the docile over-forgiving 152/172. But flight schools are money funnels. Thank God the US military doesn't work like that. There, if you can't hack it, you are out like a light bulb.
ReplyDeleteI only soloed after 50 hours, my first 27 hours had to basically be redone after work and life got in the way. Maybe this guy started at 16 and then continued after college, that's about as credible as your xenophobic rant.
DeleteI'd like to see the CFI's details and career aspirations first.
DeleteToo many CFIs are there just to get their 1500 hours so they can go to the airlines, "instructing" people that don't know better. While the instructor may not be a bad one, and the student is ok as well, they just don't work well together - and this is the end result. High hours because the team doesn't work well together. And because the CFI wants his hours, he's not going to do the right thing and recommend a different instructor. Most of them don't even have a clue they could be the problem.
How about the FAA starting reviewing CFIs and flight schools with 40+ hour students that are struggling and not ready to solo yet. I think that would reveal a different picture.