# Accident 20240723010199A: Flight Design Gmbh CTSW, Cuba, NY, July 23, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 23, 2024, 18:00 local time
- Place: Cuba, NY
- Airport: Private Grass Strip, Farnswort
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.1854° N, 78.2055° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1854&lon=-78.2055&mi=10
- Aircraft: N504CT, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N504CT) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Flight Design CTSW (registry code 0600001, https://openairdocs.org/model/flight-design-ctsw) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912ULS series (registry code 55572, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTSW
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912ULS SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 92 total, 92 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA325](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA325) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240723010199A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 23RD, AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM EDT, A FLIGHT DESIGN CTSW LANDED ON A PRIVATE GRASS AIRSTRIP IN CUBA, NY, UNDER VMC CONDITIONS WITH CALM WINDS. THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL ATTACHMENT FITTING, WHICH SECURES THE WHEEL TO THE LANDING GEAR TUBE, FAILED UPON TOUCHDOWN. THIS CAUSED THE MAIN WHEEL TO DETACH AND LED TO A GROUND LOOP. THE INCIDENT RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WINGTIP, TAIL CONE, NOSE GEAR STRUT, AND A TEAR IN THE COMPOSITE FUSELAGE AT THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR TUBE ATTACHMENT POINT. BOTH THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED, BUT THE AIRCRAFT INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

THE PILOT AND PASSENGER REPORTED THAT THE APPROACH, AIRSPEED, LANDING SPOT, AND FLARE WERE ALL WITHIN ACCEPTABLE LIMITS, AND NEITHER CONSIDERED IT TO BE A HARD LANDING.

THE FAA IIC ARRIVED AT THE SCENE ON MONDAY, JULY 29TH, TO INSPECT THE AIRCRAFT AND ITS RECORDS. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE RUNWAY AND PLACED ON A TRAILER. IT HAD UNDERGONE A CURRENT 12-MONTH CONDITION INSPECTION, AND THERE WAS NO RECENT MAINTENANCE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. NO RELEVANT AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES (ADS), MANUFACTURER SAFETY ALERTS, SERVICE BULLETINS, OR SERVICE NOTIFICATIONS WERE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. AFTER REVIEWING THE AIRCRAFT, ITS RECORDS, AND THE PILOT'S ACCOUNT OF THE INCIDENT, THE CAUSE OF THE FRACTURE IN THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL ATTACHMENT REMAINED UNDETERMINED. THE PILOT/ ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ REPORTED NO RECENT HARD LANDINGS OR EXCESSIVE SIDE LOADS.

## 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 ERA24LA325](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA325), Jul 23, 2024: Flight Design Ctsw (N504CT), Cuba, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: A separation of the left main landing gear wheel assembly during landing.

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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