What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On April 24, 2017 at approximately 1528 CST a JA30 superstol, N614WB s/n JA422-11-14, amateur built, piston powered experimental type aircraft sustained substantial damage while landing on runway 8L at Spirit of st. louis airport (sus). The airplane was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91 and visual flight rules (VFR). Operator/builder privacy data omitted was the sole occupant at the time of the accident and sustained no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight. The flight had departed from sus for sparta, IL. Destined back for sus.
privacy data omitted, Holder of a sport pilot certificate no. privacy data omitted Stated that he attempted to land three times at sus before the accident on runway 8L. This aircraft has conventional type gear. privacy data omitted Stated that the left main landing gear collapsed after experiencing cross winds during the touch down portion of the landing. He went on to say that the rear ?caster? Style landing gear wheel was not in a locked position that may have mitigated this type of event. The excessive cross winds subsequently spun the aircraft to the right placing excessive force on the left main landing gear collapsing it inward and causing subsequent fuselage, engine, propeller, left wing and flight control surface damage.
ATC tapes were requested and reviewed for the time of this event. They were consistent with the pilot?s statement.
After talking to the pilot and taking inspector?s statements into consideration, it is concluded that pilot error was the cause of the accident. It is recommended the pilot recieve remedial training. Remedial training folder has been generated. Refer to ptrs number CE03 201703887.
This investigation is still on going as there are other airworthiness issues which are needing to be addressed.
This report may be amended at a later date.
As the FAA filed it
ON APRIL 24, 2017 AT APPROXIMATELY 1528 CST A JA30 SUPERSTOL, N614WB S/N JA422-11-14, AMATEUR BUILT, PISTON POWERED EXPERIMENTAL TYPE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHILE LANDING ON RUNWAY 8L AT SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS AIRPORT (SUS). THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91 AND VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR). OPERATOR/BUILDER ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED FROM SUS FOR SPARTA, IL. DESTINED BACK FOR SUS.
^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, HOLDER OF A SPORT PILOT CERTIFICATE NO. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND THREE TIMES AT SUS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT ON RUNWAY 8L. THIS AIRCRAFT HAS CONVENTIONAL TYPE GEAR. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AFTER EXPERIENCING CROSS WINDS DURING THE TOUCH DOWN PORTION OF THE LANDING. HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE REAR ?CASTER? STYLE LANDING GEAR WHEEL WAS NOT IN A LOCKED POSITION THAT MAY HAVE MITIGATED THIS TYPE OF EVENT. THE EXCESSIVE CROSS WINDS SUBSEQUENTLY SPUN THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT PLACING EXCESSIVE FORCE ON THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSING IT INWARD AND CAUSING SUBSEQUENT FUSELAGE, ENGINE, PROPELLER, LEFT WING AND FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACE DAMAGE.
ATC TAPES WERE REQUESTED AND REVIEWED FOR THE TIME OF THIS EVENT. THEY WERE CONSISTENT WITH THE PILOT?S STATEMENT.
AFTER TALKING TO THE PILOT AND TAKING INSPECTOR?S STATEMENTS INTO CONSIDERATION, IT IS CONCLUDED THAT PILOT ERROR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. IT IS RECOMMENDED THE PILOT RECIEVE REMEDIAL TRAINING. REMEDIAL TRAINING FOLDER HAS BEEN GENERATED. REFER TO PTRS NUMBER CE03 201703887.
THIS INVESTIGATION IS STILL ON GOING AS THERE ARE OTHER AIRWORTHINESS ISSUES WHICH ARE NEEDING TO BE ADDRESSED.
THIS REPORT MAY BE AMENDED AT A LATER DATE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.