# NTSB CEN11CA567: Flight Design Ctls, N227CT, Ankeny, IA, August 10, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 9, 2011, 19:30 local (Aug 10, 2011, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Ankeny, IA - Coordinates: 41.691112, -93.56639 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6911&lon=-93.5664&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Des Moines Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 81480 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA567 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81480/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81480 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA567 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he returned from a local flight and entered the airport traffic pattern without incident. The airplane was configured for landing and final approach appeared normal. However, the pilot misjudged the flare and inadvertently made a hard landing resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he returned from a local flight and entered the airport traffic pattern without incident. The airplane was configured for landing and final approach appeared normal. However, the pilot misjudged the flare and inadvertently made a hard landing resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. He stated that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N227CT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N227CT), registered now, S/N F-08-06-13, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTLS - Registry model: [Flight Design CTLS](https://openairdocs.org/model/flight-design-ctls) (registry code 060005B) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS3](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls3) (registry code 55602, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: F-08-06-13 - Airframe hours: 406 - Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Clear Skies Flying Club - Registered owner: Clear Skies Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 21, 2011 - Departed: IKV, Ankeny, IA - Destination: IKV, Ankeny, IA - Airport: IKV, Ankeny Regional, runway 36, 5,500 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review October 13, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 228 total, 16 in this make and model, 122 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: IKV ## 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 20110810017379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110810017379A), Aug 10, 2011: Flight Design Gmbh CTLS, Ankeny, IA, Substantial damage. The pilot reported entering a right hand traffic pattern to land on runway 36 at Ankeny, Iowa (kikv). While landing on runway 36, pilot landed hard, causing… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 7, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81480. 924 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 924 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353439&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.