# NTSB CEN11CA135: Allen Raymond H Lancair Legacy, N385AS, Troy, MI, December 25, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 25, 2010, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Troy, MI - Coordinates: 42.542778, -83.17778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5428&lon=-83.1778&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 26, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration - NTSB case key (mKey): 78083 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78083/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78083 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA135 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the landing which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Contributing to the accident was the structural icing on the airframe. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Allen Raymond H LANCAIR LEGACY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md?model=05617J6), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/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: [Allen Raymond H LANCAIR LEGACY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05617J6), [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. - [Enroute-descent: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210); cases with it: [Allen Raymond H LANCAIR LEGACY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md?model=05617J6), [All aircraft, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Allen Raymond H LANCAIR LEGACY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05617J6), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis Prior to the flight, the pilot obtained a weather briefing and there were no reports of icing along the intended route of flight. The experimental airplane was equipped with a de-ice system, and during the preflight inspection, the system was operational and continued to be operational during the flight. Prior to entering icing conditions, the pilot said the de-ice system indicated a "failure" but he was not concerned because he was in the clouds and the airframe was not accumulating any ice. Shortly thereafter during the descent, the airplane accumulated approximately 6 to 10 millimeters of rime ice. He reported the ice to the air traffic controller who cleared the pilot to a lower altitude. Because of the ice on the airplane, the pilot stated that he maintained a higher than usual airspeed in the pattern and on final approach. While over the threshold, the airplane encountered an abrupt, counter clockwise roll, and he was unable to recover with the altitude remaining. He said the left main landing gear contacted the runway, and collapsed. The airplane turned to the left and came to rest upright on the runway surface. He estimated the wind was from 350 degrees at 10 knots. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the left wing sustained substantial damage. Other than the de-ice system, the pilot reported no additional anomalies with the airplane. The reason for the de-ice system failure was not determined. ## Factual narrative Prior to the flight, the pilot obtained a weather briefing and there were no reports of icing along the intended route of flight. The experimental airplane was equipped with a de-ice system, and during the preflight inspection, the system was operational and continued to be operational during the flight. Prior to entering icing conditions, the de-ice system indicated a "failure" to the pilot; however, he was not concerned because he was in the clouds and the airframe was not accumulating any ice. Shortly thereafter during the descent, the airplane accumulated approximately 6 to 10 millimeters of rime ice. The pilot reported the ice to air traffic control and they cleared him to a lower altitude. Because of the ice on the airplane, the pilot "maintained a higher than usual airspeed in the pattern and on final [approach]." While over the runway 27 (asphalt; 3,549 feet long by 60 feet wide) threshold, the pilot "experienced an abrupt counter-clockwise roll...there was no opportunity for recovery." The left main landing gear contacted the runway and collapsed. The airplane turned to the left and came to rest upright on the runway surface. The pilot estimated the winds were from 350 degrees at 10 knots. Examination of the airplane revealed the left wing sustained substantial damage. Other than the de-ice system, the pilot reported no additional anomalies with the airplane. The reason for the de-ice system failure was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N385AS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N385AS), registered now, S/N L2K-202, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ALLEN RAYMOND H LANCAIR LEGACY - Registry model: [Allen Raymond H LANCAIR LEGACY](https://openairdocs.org/model/allen-raymond-h-lancair-legacy) (registry code 05617J6) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: L2K-202 - Airframe hours: 465 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550-N 380 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bowers Harbor Legacy N385as LLC - Registered owner: Bowers Harbor Legacy N385as LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 19, 2010 - Departed: TVC, Traverse City, MI - Destination: VLL, Troy, MI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: VLL, Oakland/Troy Airport, runway 27, 3,549 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 551 total, 227 in this make and model, 479 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast ## 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 20101225053939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101225053939A), Dec 25, 2010: Allen Raymo LANCAIR LEG, Troy, MI, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed traverse city airport (ktvc), in traverse city, Michigan, on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan to the Oakland Troy airport (kvll),… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 26, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78083. 325 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 325 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342263&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.