# NTSB CEN11LA014: Drake Ronald A Acro Sport 1, N53DB, Fowlerville, MI, October 11, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 11, 2010, 15:16 local (19:16 UTC) - Place: Fowlerville, MI - Coordinates: 42.717224, -84.0625 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7172&lon=-84.0625&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 - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Detroit FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77544 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77544/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77544 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA014 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of control during a go-around maneuver following a bounced landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's limited experience in the make and model airplane. ## 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: [Drake Ronald A ACRO SPORT 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05629IE), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Drake Ronald A ACRO SPORT 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=05629IE), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/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: [Drake Ronald A ACRO SPORT 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05629IE), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Drake Ronald A ACRO SPORT 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05629IE), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis A witness reported that during landing the airplane touched down hard and bounced. He heard the sound of the engine increase, but not to a level consistent with takeoff power. He noted that the nose of the airplane was high. The airplane appeared to become unsteady and turned to the left, low over the trees. He commented that the airplane was rolling as he lost sight of it. He then heard the sound of the crash. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction. The pilot had logged 3 flights in the amateur-built airplane prior to the accident flight, with a total of 3 landings. ## Factual narrative On October 11, 2010, about 1516 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Drake Acro Sport 1 biplane, N53DB, impacted trees and terrain at the Maple Grove Airport (65G), Fowlerville, Michigan. The pilot had been conducting takeoffs and landings on runway 27 (3,050 feet by 110 feet, turf) and was attempting a go-around at the time of the accident. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight departed from 65G at an undetermined time. A witness reported that the pilot had overshot the runway and executed a go-around prior to the accident. On the accident approach, the airplane touched down hard and bounced. He heard the sound of the engine increase, but not to a level consistent with takeoff power. He noted that the nose of the airplane was high. The airplane began to "waffle" and turn to the left, low over the trees. He commented that the airplane was rolling as he lost sight of it. He then heard the sound of the crash. The pilot did not have any recollection of the events leading up to the accident. The airplane impacted a wooded area south of the airport. Sections of the wings were separated from the fuselage. They were located adjacent to the fuselage. The ailerons were dislocated from the wings and were located with the wreckage. The aft fuselage was deformed. The elevators and rudders remained attached to the horizontal and vertical stabilizers, respectively. Control continuity was confirmed from the elevators and rudder to the cockpit controls. A postaccident examination of the airframe did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure. A detailed examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies which would have precluded the production of full power. The airplane recording hour meter indicated 10.7 hours. The accident airplane was issued an amateur-built, experimental airworthiness certificate on April 9, 2010. Maintenance records included an entry noting the issuance of the airworthiness certificate. One additional entry, dated April 23, 2010, indicated the successful completion of the transponder and altitude reporting equipment testing. There were no subsequent entries in the maintenance records provided. A review of pilot's logbook indicated a total flight time of 695.5 hours, with 20.6 hours in tailwheel equipped aircraft. The available logbook information included 3 entries related to the accident airplane. The first was dated June 4, 2010, and noted a local flight of 0.7 hours, with 1 landing. The entry also included the comment, "Prop strike on landing." The second entry was dated October 1, 2010, and indicated a flight duration of 1.6 hours, with 1 landing. This entry included the notation, "First successful flight by R.D." The third entry was dated October 6, 2010, and indicated a flight duration of 1.1 hours, with 1 landing. This was the final entry in the available records. A logbook endorsement indicated the satisfactory completion of a flight review on May 25, 2010. Weather conditions recorded at the Livingston County Airport (OZW), located about 7 miles southeast of 65G, at 1515, included clear skies and northwest winds at 6 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N53DB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53DB-2013-09-30), registration cancelled 2013-09-30, S/N 90401, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Drake Ronald A Acro Sport 1 - Registry model: [Drake Ronald A ACRO SPORT 1](https://openairdocs.org/model/drake-ronald-a-acro-sport-1) (registry code 05629IE) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-H2AD](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-h2ad) (registry code 42131, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 90401 - Airframe hours: 11 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 9, 2010, 10 hours before - Departed: 65G, Fowlerville, MI - Destination: 65G, Fowlerville, MI - Airport: 65G, Maple Grove, runway 27, 3,050 × 110 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review May 25, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 696 total, 4 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: OZW, 6 nm away ## 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 20101011052469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101011052469A), Oct 11, 2010: 2010 Drake ACRO SPORT, Fowlerville, MI, Destroyed. Mr. Drake was attempting to land, and bounced the aircraft on the grass strip runway very hard, then applied power to go around for another approach. At the… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 4, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77544. 1.4 MB in all. - Witness Statements (item 1, .PDF, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341441&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Conversation Record -- FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345336&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Record%20--%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Engine Examination Record (item 3, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341442&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Examination%20Record-Redacted.PDF - Aircraft Logbook (item 4, .PDF, 174 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341443&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Logbook-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Logbook (item 5, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341447&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook-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.