# Accident 20220323004099A: Airplane Factory (Pty) Ltd SLING LSA, Torrance, CA, March 23, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 23, 2022, 10:45 local time
- Place: Torrance, CA
- Airport: Torrance Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8034° N, 118.3396° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8034&lon=-118.3396&mi=10
- Aircraft: N863SL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N863SL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Airplane Factory SLING LSA (registry code 069002H, https://openairdocs.org/model/airplane-factory-sling-lsa) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912 IS series (registry code 55593, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-is-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRPLANE FACTORY (PTY) LTD SLING LSA
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912 IS
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,850 total, 300 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR22LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA135) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220323004099A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

INVESTIGATION: I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE LONG BEACH FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE THAT ON MARCH 23, 2022 AT 1045 LOCAL TIME AT THE TORRANCE AIRPORT (KTOA) N863SL DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE SAFETY REQUIREMENT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING.  UPON LANDING WITH A RIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND THE PILOT IN COMMAND INSTRUCTOR EXCESSIVELY FLARED THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT EXPECTING THE INSTRUCTOR UNDER TRAINING TO TAKE OVER WHICH DID NOT HAPPEN AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND INSTRUCTOR WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER WITH FULL POWER.  THE AIRCRAFT VEERED LEFT OF THE CENTERLINE AND STRUCK RUNWAY SIGNS ON THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGTIPS, THE BASE OF THE RUDDER FRAME AND THE LEFT AILERON.  THE FAA BECAME AWARE ON MARCH 23, 2002.

ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS (RCA): THIS NONCONFORMANCE WAS DUE TO THE FOLLOWING:

1.	THE PILOT IN COMMAND INSTRUCTOR ASSUMED THE INSTRUCTOR UNDER TRAINING WOULD CALL           OUT THE CORRECTIVE PROCEDURES OR TAKE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHICH DID NOT HAPPEN.

2.	THE PILOT IN COMMAND INSTRUCTOR ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO GET BEHIND THE ?POWER CURVE? IN WHICH AFTER APPLICATION OF FULL POWER THE PILOT IN COMMAND INSTRUCTOR COULD NOT SAFELY CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT UNTIL IT LANDED TO THE LEFT OF THE CENTERLINE AND THE LEFT WING WAS OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.

CORRECTIVE ACTION: THE PILOT IN COMMAND INSTRUCTOR CORRECTED THE SAFETY ISSUE BY RECOGNIZING THAT HE NO LONGER HAVE AN EXPECTATION THAT AN INSTRUCTOR UNDER TRAINING WILL TAKE THE APPROPRIATE ACTION.  THE PILOT IN COMMAND INSTRUCTOR WILL MAINTAIN AWARENESS OF THE AIRCRAFT?S LIMITATIONS AND NOT EXCEED THOSE LIMITATIONS IN THE FUTURE.

COMMENTS: I USED COUNSELING TO REGAIN SAFE OPERATIONS. I AM SATISFIED THE PILOT IN COMMAND INSTRUCTOR CORRECTIVE ACTIONS FULLY ADDRESS THE IDENTIFIED CAUSE(S) AND HAVE REESTABLISHED SAFE OPERATIONS. I RECOMMEND NO FURTHER ACTION OR ADDITIONAL FOLLOW-UP.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR22LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA135), Mar 23, 2022: Airplane Factory Sling LSA (N863SL), Torrance, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s loss of airplane control during an aborted landing due to a wind shift, which resulted in an impact with a runway sign.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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