# NTSB CEN09CA583: Sierra E5A Replica, N44062, Port Huron, MI, September 12, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 12, 2009, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Port Huron, MI - Coordinates: 42.910831, -82.52861 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9108&lon=-82.5286&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 29, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Detroit FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74727 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA583 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74727/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74727 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA583 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Pell Thomas A SE5A REPLICA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05619HC), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Pell Thomas A SE5A REPLICA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05619HC), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Pell Thomas A SE5A REPLICA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05619HC), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Pell Thomas A SE5A REPLICA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05619HC), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Pell Thomas A SE5A REPLICA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05619HC), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he returned to the traffic pattern after a 45-minute flight in the amateur-built, World War I replica airplane. During the landing touchdown, the airplane bounced once and veered to the left. The pilot reported that “the aircraft traveled sideway for 50 – 75 feet.” The landing gear “folded” and the left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that he had about 10 hours of flight time in the airplane, and that the airplane was a “delight to fly” but the landings were always “tricky.” The inspection of the airplane did not reveal any evidence of pre-impact failure or malfunction. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he returned to the traffic pattern after a 45-minute flight in the amateur-built, World War I replica airplane. During the landing touchdown, the airplane bounced once and veered to the left. The pilot reported that “the aircraft traveled sideway for 50 – 75 feet.” The landing gear “folded” and the left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that he had about 10 hours of flight time in the airplane, and that the airplane was a “delight to fly” but the landings were always “tricky.” The inspection of the airplane did not reveal any evidence of pre-impact failure or malfunction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N44062](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N44062), registered now, S/N 098507, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SIERRA E5A Replica - Registry model: [Pell Thomas A SE5A REPLICA](https://openairdocs.org/model/pell-thomas-a-se5a-replica) (registry code 05619HC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 98507 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Thomas A Pell - Registered owner: Thomas A Pell - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: PHN, Port Huron, MI - Destination: PHN, Port Huron, MI - Airport: PHN, St. Clair County Municipal, runway 04 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; flight hours: 200 total, 10 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090912049339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090912049339A), Sep 12, 2009: Pell Thomas SE5A REPLIC, Kimball Twp, MI, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] A private pilot, departed Saint Clair County Airport (kphn) for a local VFR pleasure flight. He was flying a SE5A replica certified in… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74727. 656 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 631 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319965&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Interview (item 2, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319990&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-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.