# NTSB CEN09CA435: Flight Design Ctsw, N218AW, North Vernon, IN, July 13, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 13, 2009, 17:48 local (21:48 UTC) - Place: North Vernon, IN - Coordinates: 39.045276, -85.605552 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0453&lon=-85.6056&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Indianapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74267 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA435 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74267/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74267 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA435 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a stall and nose over during touchdown. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the landing flare the airplane pulled to the left. He added power and moved the control stick to the right, but without success, and inadvertently stalled the airplane. The airplane landed left wing low and on its nose after falling about three feet. The light sport airplane was not equipped with a stall warning horn. The airplane’s flight training supplement states the following about stalls: “The stall is noted through light buffeting. At 2 kts. (3 mph) above the stall speed, the rudder becomes “soft”. When flying close to stall speed, only the rudder and elevator are fully controllable. The ailerons have less effectiveness in very slow flight.” ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the landing flare the airplane pulled to the left. He added power and moved the control stick to the right, but without success, and inadvertently stalled the airplane. The airplane landed left wing low and on its nose after falling about three feet. The light sport airplane was not equipped with a stall warning horn. The airplane’s flight training supplement states the following about stalls: “The stall is noted through light buffeting. At 2 kts. (3 mph) above the stall speed, the rudder becomes “soft”. When flying close to stall speed, only the rudder and elevator are fully controllable. The ailerons have less effectiveness in very slow flight.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N218AW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N218AW-2009-08-11), registration cancelled 2009-08-11, S/N 06-11-07, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FLIGHT DESIGN CTSW - Registry model: [Flight Design CTSW](https://openairdocs.org/model/flight-design-ctsw) (registry code 0600001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 06-11-07 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: L&C Burbank Corp - Registered owner: L&C Burbank Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: OVO, North Vernon, IN - Destination: OVO, North Vernon, IN - Airport: OVO, North Vernon Municipal, runway 05 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; sport pilot, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; flight hours: 636 total, 17 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 5, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74267. 695 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 517 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316893&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Flight Training Supplement (item 2, .PDF, 178 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316894&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Training%20Supplement-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.