20090920018189A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Aimm AMT200S · Wheeling, WV · September 20, 2009

Date: September 20, 2009 · 13:00 local
Place: Wheeling, WV
Airport: Wheeling Ohio Co
Phase of flight: Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N46068
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA09CA534
Reported as: Aimm AMT200S
Reported engine: ROTAX ROTAX*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,100 total35 in this make and model1 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

The pilot stated that the cowling gasket came loose allowing outside air to enter the cockpit. The outside air rushing into the cockpit and blowing on to the pilot's face distracted him. Upon landing downwind on rw 03, the aircraft touched down slightly left of the runway centerline at about 70 mph, and the plane ground looped to the left colliding with two runway lights and a runway identification sign.

As the FAA filed it

THE PILOT STATED THAT THE COWLING GASKET CAME LOOSE ALLOWING OUTSIDE AIR TO ENTER THE COCKPIT. THE OUTSIDE AIR RUSHING INTO THE COCKPIT AND BLOWING ON TO THE PILOT'S FACE DISTRACTED HIM. UPON LANDING DOWNWIND ON RW 03, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN SLIGHTLY LEFT OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE AT ABOUT 70 MPH, AND THE PLANE GROUND LOOPED TO THE LEFT COLLIDING WITH TWO RUNWAY LIGHTS AND A RUNWAY IDENTIFICATION SIGN.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA09CA534Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportWheeling, WVThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to properly secure the canopy latch which resulted in an in-flight canopy opening.Sep 20, 2009 · Substantial damage