# NTSB CEN09LA424: Consolidated Aeronautics Lake LA-4-200, N56LA, Racine, WI, July 4, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 4, 2009, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Racine, WI
- Coordinates: 42.728054, -87.806945
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7281&lon=-87.8069&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-Milwaukee FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74241
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA424
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74241/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74241
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA424

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare that resulted in a hard landing and subsequent separation of the airplane's sponson.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2400108), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2400108), [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2400108), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot initially reported that while landing the amphibious airplane on a lake, the left sponson struck a submerged object and separated from the airplane causing substantial damage. A subsequent examination of the airplane showed no evidence that the sponson had impacted anything. No preexisting anomalies were found with respect to the airplane, sponson, or sponson attachment. The pilot did not respond to repeated requests for information from the NTSB.

## Factual narrative

On July 4, 2009, about 1300 central daylight time, a Consolidated Aeronautics, Lake LA-4-200, N56LA, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a water landing on Lake Michigan, near Racine, Wisconsin. During the landing, the left sponson separated from the airplane. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot was not injured. The departure time and location were not determined. The pilot initially reported to Federal Aviation Administration inspectors that the airplane's sponson struck a submerged object during landing. The FAA inspector that examined the airplane after the accident relayed in a telephone interview that there was no evidence that the sponson had impacted anything during the accident. No pre-existing anomalies were found with respect to the airplane, sponson, or sponson attachment. The pilot did not respond to further requests for information by the National Transportation Safety Board's investigator.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N56LA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56LA), registered now, S/N 973, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CONSOLIDATED AERONAUTICS INC. LAKE LA-4-200
- Registry model: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/consolidated-aeronautics-lake-la-4-200) (registry code 2400108) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 973
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Unknown
- Destination: Racine, WI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: RAC

## 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 20090704016669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090704016669A), Jul 4, 2009: Conaer LA4200, Racine, WI, Substantial damage. Pilot made multiple landings near wind point, Racine , WI in N56LA, a lake a/c. sea conditions were calm. Wind conditions were calm. Upon landing on the 6th…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74241. 30 KB in all.

- Miscellaneous (item 1, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330402&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous-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.

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