# NTSB CEN12CA045: Engineering & Research 415-C, N93415, Lebanon, OH, October 25, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 25, 2011, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Lebanon, OH - Coordinates: 39.462223, -84.251945 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4622&lon=-84.2519&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 18, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Cleveland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82189 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA045 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82189/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82189 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA045 ## 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. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Engineering & Research 415-C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0420302), [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: [Engineering & Research 415-C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0420302), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings with a flight instructor. The instructor reported that, upon landing when the airplane was about 2 feet above the runway, the pilot made a down elevator input because he believed that the airplane had ballooned. The instructor stated that he had been guarding the flight controls and he immediately corrected by inputting up elevator, but the airplane impacted the runway in a flat attitude. A postaccident examination revealed that the airplane's firewall was buckled. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was practicing take-offs and landings with an instructor during the accident flight. He stated that on the final landing, he crossed the runway numbers and made a hard landing. The flight instructor reported that when the airplane was about 2 feet above the runway the pilot made a down elevator input because he believed that the airplane had ballooned. The flight instructor stated that he had been guarding the flight controls and he immediately corrected by inputting up elevator, but the airplane impacted the runway in a flat attitude. Subsequent to the hard landing it was found that the airplane's firewall was buckled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93415](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N93415), registered now, S/N 738, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ENGINEERING & RESEARCH 415-C - Registry model: [Engineering & Research 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-415-c) (registry code 0420302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 738 - Airframe hours: 1661 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 26, 2011 - Departed: I19, Xenia, OH - Destination: I19, Xenia, OH - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: I68, Lebanon-Warren County Airport, runway 19, 4,502 × 65 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review August 10, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 160 total, 11 in this make and model, 129 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 34; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 8,500 total, 100 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Observed at: I68 ## 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 20111025024979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111025024979A), Oct 25, 2011: Engineering & Research 415-C, Lebanon, OH, Substantial damage. The owner was working with a flight instructor on airwork. The owner flared late during a landing attempt which resulted in a hard landing. The nose tire… ## Other investigations on N93415 (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN10IA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10IA173), Nov 6, 2009: Univar 415-C/D (N93415), Xenia, OH, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain the proper glide slope during final approach, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a tree. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 8, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82189. 814 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 786 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358268&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of conversation with flight instructor. (item 2, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358281&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20conversation%20with%20flight%20instructor.-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. --- 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.