20170726015339I

Incident · Minor damage

FAA incident report · Mooney M20K · Fairfield, NJ · July 26, 2017

Date
July 26, 2017 · 15:10 local
Place
Fairfield, NJ
Airport
Essex County Airport
Phase of flight
Landing: Touchdown
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Minor damage
Aircraft
N57535
Reported as
Mooney M20K
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificate
Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
3,445 total702 in this make and model151 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.

On 7/27/2017, it was reported that aircraft N57535 had a propeller strike at cdw airport at approximately 1510 on 7/26/2017 while attempting to land on runway 22.

The pilot provided the following written statement.

Landing at kcdw on 7/26/2017 at approx. at 3:10PM, runway 22. Winds were reported 240 @ 4-6. Normal approach from the west with right downwind. Upon touchdown, my passenger, 6?5? (1st time flyer) became panicked and applied accidental pressure on the right rudder pedal causing the aircraft to veer right across the runway. I attempted left rudder correction but did not correct the right rudder pressure. Upon this happening I instituted an immediate go-around as I was unsure as to the ability to straighten out the aircraft or maintain control on the runway. I demanded that he remove his foot from the pedal which he immediately complied which he apologized for his reflexive action. I instituted a wider approach and landed again on runway 22 and I assume I struck the prop upon releasing back pressure on the yoke on run-out. I taxied to airbound FBO where I notice for the 1st time the prop strike. No stoppage, noise or sensation was apparent at the time of the strike. During taxi, unaware of the strike, the aircraft engine ran smoothly with no increase in vibration. Upon shutdown and visual inspection, I immediately contacted c&w for service where the aircraft is today. I reported the strike to the FAA the following morning.

On 8/1/2017 inspectors from this office went to c&w aero services at kcdw to evaluate damage and found damaged propeller and nose wheel door. A review of aircraft records revealed last annual inspection was performed on 03/12/2017. Last 14 CFR part 91.413 transponder inspection was performed on 09/09/2014. This inspection is due each 24 calendar months and was, therefore, over due by ten months. This was not in any way causal to the incident.

As the FAA filed it

ON 7/27/2017, IT WAS REPORTED THAT AIRCRAFT N57535 HAD A PROPELLER STRIKE AT CDW AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 1510 ON 7/26/2017 WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON RUNWAY 22.

THE PILOT PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING WRITTEN STATEMENT.

LANDING AT KCDW ON 7/26/2017 AT APPROX. AT 3:10PM, RUNWAY 22. WINDS WERE REPORTED 240 @ 4-6. NORMAL APPROACH FROM THE WEST WITH RIGHT DOWNWIND. UPON TOUCHDOWN, MY PASSENGER, 6?5? (1ST TIME FLYER) BECAME PANICKED AND APPLIED ACCIDENTAL PRESSURE ON THE RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO VEER RIGHT ACROSS THE RUNWAY. I ATTEMPTED LEFT RUDDER CORRECTION BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE RIGHT RUDDER PRESSURE. UPON THIS HAPPENING I INSTITUTED AN IMMEDIATE GO-AROUND AS I WAS UNSURE AS TO THE ABILITY TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE AIRCRAFT OR MAINTAIN CONTROL ON THE RUNWAY. I DEMANDED THAT HE REMOVE HIS FOOT FROM THE PEDAL WHICH HE IMMEDIATELY COMPLIED WHICH HE APOLOGIZED FOR HIS REFLEXIVE ACTION. I INSTITUTED A WIDER APPROACH AND LANDED AGAIN ON RUNWAY 22 AND I ASSUME I STRUCK THE PROP UPON RELEASING BACK PRESSURE ON THE YOKE ON RUN-OUT. I TAXIED TO AIRBOUND FBO WHERE I NOTICE FOR THE 1ST TIME THE PROP STRIKE. NO STOPPAGE, NOISE OR SENSATION WAS APPARENT AT THE TIME OF THE STRIKE. DURING TAXI, UNAWARE OF THE STRIKE, THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE RAN SMOOTHLY WITH NO INCREASE IN VIBRATION. UPON SHUTDOWN AND VISUAL INSPECTION, I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED C&W FOR SERVICE WHERE THE AIRCRAFT IS TODAY. I REPORTED THE STRIKE TO THE FAA THE FOLLOWING MORNING.

ON 8/1/2017 INSPECTORS FROM THIS OFFICE WENT TO C&W AERO SERVICES AT KCDW TO EVALUATE DAMAGE AND FOUND DAMAGED PROPELLER AND NOSE WHEEL DOOR. A REVIEW OF AIRCRAFT RECORDS REVEALED LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON 03/12/2017. LAST 14 CFR PART 91.413 TRANSPONDER INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON 09/09/2014. THIS INSPECTION IS DUE EACH 24 CALENDAR MONTHS AND WAS, THEREFORE, OVER DUE BY TEN MONTHS. THIS WAS NOT IN ANY WAY CAUSAL TO THE INCIDENT.