# NTSB CEN09LA238: Evektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar Plus, N906LA, Lakeville, MN, March 17, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 17, 2009, 18:52 local (23:52 UTC) - Place: Lakeville, MN - Coordinates: 44.628055, -93.228057 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6281&lon=-93.2281&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73611 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA238 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73611/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73611 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA238 ## Probable cause The instructor pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, and the student pilot’s unintentional interference with the instructor’s rudder pedal during the go-around. Contributing to the accident was the cockpit design which allowed inadvertent rudder pedal activation from the opposite seat position. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: rudder control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR PLUS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md?model=060004N), [All aircraft, 93 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR PLUS, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=060004N), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Equipment/furnishings: flight compartment equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022510): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Design (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR PLUS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022510/cases.md?model=060004N), [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR PLUS, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=060004N), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis A certified flight instructor (CFI) and his student were practicing maneuvers to simulate slow flight and aircraft control before landing. The intent of the maneuver was to fly the airplane down the length of the runway with the wheels about 2 feet above the runway surface. The student was to control airspeed with pitch, heading with rudder, drift with aileron control, and altitude with power. The CFI stated that the accident occurred on the second attempt of this maneuver and that the first attempt ended because the student was too fast and had too much engine power. The CFI stated that the second pass "started well" but the airplane began to sink around mid-field. He instructed the student to relinquish control and attempted a go-around. The airplane started pitching up and turning to the left, and subsequently impacted the ground. The CFI stated that he believed the student was pushing on the CFI's left rudder pedal during the mishap. He stated that on other occasions students have had their right foot slip off the pilot rudder pedal and on to the co-pilot's left rudder pedal. The student gave a similar account of the accident, but stated that after he relinquished control his feet were "tucked back under [him]." The manufacturer has designed a retrofit barrier that, when installed, would prevent a pilot from being able to depress the rudder pedal in the neighboring pilot position. ## Factual narrative On March 17, 2009, at 1852 central daylight time, an Evektor-Aerotechnik AS Sportstar Plus, N906LA, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the ground during a go-around from runway 30 at the Airlake Airport, Lakeville, Minnesota. The airplane was being piloted by a certified flight instructor (CFI) and a student pilot. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and was not on a flight plan. The student pilot suffered a broken right leg/ankle during the impact. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight originated about 45 minutes prior to the accident. The CFI reported that the student pilot was practicing maneuvers to simulate slow flight and aircraft control before landing. The intent of the maneuver was to fly the airplane down the length of the runway with the wheels about 2 feet above the runway surface. The student was to control airspeed with pitch, heading with rudder, drift with aileron control, and altitude with power. The CFI stated that the accident occurred on the second attempt of this maneuver and that the first attempt ended because the student was too fast and had too much engine power. The CFI stated that the second pass "started well" but the airplane began to sink around mid-field. The CFI stated that he instructed the student to relinquish control and the CFI attempted a go-around. The CFI stated that the airplane started pitching up and turning to the left. He stated that he believed the student was pushing on the CFI's left rudder pedal. He stated that on other occasions students have had their right foot slip off pilot rudder pedal and onto the co-pilot left rudder pedal. The student pilot reported that during the maneuver the left wheel of the airplane struck the runway and he inadvertently applied left rudder which put the airplane in the position of going off the left side of the runway. He stated that the CFI called for him to relinquish control and he did. He said that the CFI said to "get off the rudders". The student stated that at this time his feet were "tucked back under [him]." The United Stated importer of the airplane was contacted regarding this accident. He relayed that he was aware of the accident and the CFI's claim that the student pilot was pushing on the rudder pedal in the opposite seat position. He confirmed that no divider exists in that aircraft model to prevent such an occurrence, but that the rudder pedal top tube has a protruding flange intended to prevent a pilot's foot from sliding off of the rudder pedal. Since the accident involving N906LA, the manufacturer has issued an "Informative Bulletin" to address the possibility of a pilot inadvertently depressing the opposite seat rudder pedal. The bulletin states that a barrier is available to be installed between the pilot's right and co-pilot's left seat rudder pedals. The installation of the barrier is an option available toaircraft owners. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N906LA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N906LA-2014-12-10), registration cancelled 2014-12-10, S/N 2007 0906, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EVEKTOR-AEROTECHNIK AS SPORTSTAR PLUS - Registry model: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR PLUS](https://openairdocs.org/model/evektor-aerotechnik-sportstar-plus) (registry code 060004N) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2007 0906 - Engines: Rotax 912 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Departed: LVN, Lakeville, MN - Destination: LVN, Lakeville, MN - Airport: LVN, Airlake Airport, runway 30, 4,098 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 46; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 24, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 1,011 total, 45 in this make and model, 943 as pilot in command - Student pilot; age 46; injuries: serious; student; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; flight hours: 17 total, 17 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: LVN ## 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 20090317010709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090317010709A), Mar 17, 2009: Amtr SPORTSTAR, Minneapolis, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft was practicing slow flight and landings at klvn on runway 30. [privacy data omitted] Was giving instruction to a student pilot, [privacy… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 19, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73611. 1.6 MB in all. - Flight Instructor Statement (item 1, .PDF, 563 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326437&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Student Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 446 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326438&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 439 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326440&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Evektor Informative Bulletin (item 4, .PDF, 173 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326529&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Evektor%20Informative%20Bulletin-Redacted.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.