20190905019059I

Incident · Minor damage

FAA incident report · Brand Richard J PANZER · Lititz, PA · September 5, 2019

Date: September 5, 2019 · 12:40 local
Place: Lititz, PA
Airport: Lancaster Airport
Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N101PZ
Reported as: Brand Richard J Panzer
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 899 total50 in this make and model31 in the last 90 days

N101PZRegistered now · Brand Richard J PANZERS/N GILES G-202-004 · Built 1998 Airframe modelBrand Richard J PANZER Engine modelLycoming AEIO-360 seriesReciprocating

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.

During the final phase of executing a flare to land, the aircraft made an un-commanded drift to the right, carrying the aircraft away from the center line and off the runway. The aircraft struck a runway light (unknowingly). The pilot continued back onto the runway and proceeded to the re-fueling area. At this time the pilot was approached by a field maintenance worker who pointed out to the pilot, that he made contact with the runway light. The extent of aircraft contact or damage was not initially apparent. The pilot later discovered that a portion of the wheel fairing had broken off. Which is consistent with making contact with the runway light. The field maintenance worker suggested to the pilot that he contact the tower to let them know, which he did. The pilot conducted his preflight and found no further damage and took off without incident.

As the FAA filed it

DURING THE FINAL PHASE OF EXECUTING A FLARE TO LAND, THE AIRCRAFT MADE AN UN-COMMANDED DRIFT TO THE RIGHT, CARRYING THE AIRCRAFT AWAY FROM THE CENTER LINE AND OFF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A RUNWAY LIGHT (UNKNOWINGLY). THE PILOT CONTINUED BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY AND PROCEEDED TO THE RE-FUELING AREA. AT THIS TIME THE PILOT WAS APPROACHED BY A FIELD MAINTENANCE WORKER WHO POINTED OUT TO THE PILOT, THAT HE MADE CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY LIGHT. THE EXTENT OF AIRCRAFT CONTACT OR DAMAGE WAS NOT INITIALLY APPARENT. THE PILOT LATER DISCOVERED THAT A PORTION OF THE WHEEL FAIRING HAD BROKEN OFF. WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH MAKING CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY LIGHT. THE FIELD MAINTENANCE WORKER SUGGESTED TO THE PILOT THAT HE CONTACT THE TOWER TO LET THEM KNOW, WHICH HE DID. THE PILOT CONDUCTED HIS PREFLIGHT AND FOUND NO FURTHER DAMAGE AND TOOK OFF WITHOUT INCIDENT.