What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
After takeoff from runway 19 at gmu the engine started indicating a hot cylinder. The power was reduced and left turn was started toward runway 28 at gmu. Due to the low power setting the approach was lower than normal in the abbreviated pattern they were flying. The pilot (flying) at the time (privacy data omitted) was getting a biennial flight review, and was unfamiliar with the airport. The aircraft was in too close and the pilot (flying) could not find the runway while looking into the setting sun. At this time the instructor privacy data omitted took control of the aircraft and turned left to get back to the runway. privacy data omitted Then made an immediate right turn to line up with the runway. They were low enough coming out of the right turn that they had already started to flare. They landed hard with significant drift to the left but were successful at gaining directional control on roll out. Began braking and the aircraft started a gentle left turn. Full rudder would not stop the turn and it got sharper. The aircraft existed the runway to the left but skid sliding to to the right. The only damage is to the right main gear gear lower strut to axle attach point.
The Sonex only has a single brake handle that applies pressure to both brakes, so you could not use differential braking.
As the FAA filed it
AFTER TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 19 AT GMU THE ENGINE STARTED INDICATING A HOT CYLINDER. THE POWER WAS REDUCED AND LEFT TURN WAS STARTED TOWARD RUNWAY 28 AT GMU. DUE TO THE LOW POWER SETTING THE APPROACH WAS LOWER THAN NORMAL IN THE ABBREVIATED PATTERN THEY WERE FLYING. THE PILOT (FLYING) AT THE TIME (^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^) WAS GETTING A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW, AND WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN TOO CLOSE AND THE PILOT (FLYING) COULD NOT FIND THE RUNWAY WHILE LOOKING INTO THE SETTING SUN. AT THIS TIME THE INSTRUCTOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND TURNED LEFT TO GET BACK TO THE RUNWAY. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THEN MADE AN IMMEDIATE RIGHT TURN TO LINE UP WITH THE RUNWAY. THEY WERE LOW ENOUGH COMING OUT OF THE RIGHT TURN THAT THEY HAD ALREADY STARTED TO FLARE. THEY LANDED HARD WITH SIGNIFICANT DRIFT TO THE LEFT BUT WERE SUCCESSFUL AT GAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON ROLL OUT. BEGAN BRAKING AND THE AIRCRAFT STARTED A GENTLE LEFT TURN. FULL RUDDER WOULD NOT STOP THE TURN AND IT GOT SHARPER. THE AIRCRAFT EXISTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT BUT SKID SLIDING TO TO THE RIGHT. THE ONLY DAMAGE IS TO THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR GEAR LOWER STRUT TO AXLE ATTACH POINT.
THE SONEX ONLY HAS A SINGLE BRAKE HANDLE THAT APPLIES PRESSURE TO BOTH BRAKES, SO YOU COULD NOT USE DIFFERENTIAL BRAKING.
Other reports on N390SG · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.