# NTSB CEN12IA451: Flight Design Ctls, N566FD, Marysville, OH, July 16, 2012 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 2012, 18:55 local (22:55 UTC) - Place: Marysville, OH - Coordinates: 40.224723, -83.351669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2247&lon=-83.3517&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA -- Columbus Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 84354 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12IA451 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84354/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84354 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12IA451 ## Probable cause Fatigue failure of the left main wheel assembly on takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control and runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: wheel/ski/float](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that before the accident, he landed without incident and taxied back for takeoff. During the subsequent takeoff roll, he felt a "jolt" and heard a "thumping" sound from the left main wheel. The airplane immediately veered to the left and departed the runway pavement. A postincident examination revealed that a section of the outboard half of the left main wheel assembly had failed. Airplane damage was limited to the left main landing gear, engine cowling, and propeller assembly. Metallurgical examination of the left outboard wheel revealed that it failed as a result of fatigue. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2012, about 1855 eastern daylight time, a Flight Design Gmbh model CTLS, N566FD, sustained minor damage during a runway excursion on takeoff at Union County Airport (MRT), Marysville, Ohio. The pilot was not injured. The aircraft was registered to B S Aviation LLC and operated by New Flyers Association under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a solo instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from the Ohio State University Airport (OSU) about 1805. The pilot reported that after departing OSU, he proceeded to the local practice area and completed several training maneuvers. He then flew to MRT in order to practice takeoffs and landings. After entering the traffic pattern, he landed on runway 27 (4,218 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) without incident and taxied back for departure. During the subsequent takeoff roll, the pilot reported feeling a "jolt" and hearing a "thumping" sound from the left main wheel. The airplane immediately veered to the left and departed the runway pavement. The airplane came to rest about 20 yards from the edge of the runway, after striking a Precision Approach Path Indicator light. The left main landing gear collapsed. A postincident examination revealed that outer half of the left main wheel assembly had failed. Airplane damage was limited to the left main landing gear, engine cowling, and propeller assembly. The operator reported that the right main wheel had failed on this airplane in a similar manner on December 6, 2011. Both the left and right wheel components were submitted for further examination. Metallurgical examination of the left and right outboard wheel halves revealed a crack adjacent to the rim, extending about three-quarters of the circumference in the case of the left wheel half, and about two-thirds of the circumference in the case of the right wheel half. Fracture surface features were consistent with fatigue cracking extending through the thickness of the component, with multiple origins along the outer surface. No unusual features such as deep machining marks were observed at the fatigue origin areas. The material thickness varied over the cross-section of both wheel halves, measuring about 0.083 inch at the formed radius adjacent to the rim. The specified material thickness was 0.118 inch. The measured material properties, such as conductivity, harness, and composition, were consistent with the specified material. The operator reported that at the time of the incident, the airframe had accumulated 1,396 hours total airframe time (980.3 hours tachometer time). Maintenance records revealed that the most recent annual inspection was completed on May 30, 2012, at 907.6 hours tachometer time. Records indicated that the left landing gear leg had been replaced after repair on November 4, 2011, at 702.1 hours tachometer time, subsequent to a hard landing inspection. The rightmain wheel outer half was replaced on December 7, 2011. An airframe maintenance time was not recorded with that logbook entry. Weather conditions recorded by the MRT Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS), at 1853, were: calm wind, 10 miles visibility, clear sky, temperature 33 degrees Celsius, dew point 12 degrees Celsius, altimeter 29.93 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N566FD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N566FD), registered now, S/N 08-03-06, 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 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 08-03-06 - Airframe hours: 1396 - Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: New Flyers Association - Registered owner: B S Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 30, 2012 - Departed: OSU, Columbus, OH - Destination: MRT, Marysville, OH - Airport: MRT, Union County, runway 27, 4,218 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; student; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 42 total, 42 in this make and model, 42 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: MRT ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20120716017359I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120716017359I), Jul 16, 2012: Flight Design Gmbh CTLS, Marysville, OH, Minor damage. 7/17/12 Started occurence investigation at kmrt-Marysville, OH airport for aircraft N566FB for an event on 7-16-12, at around 18:55. The aircraft N566FB is a… ## Other investigations on N566FD (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 GAA15CA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA016), Mar 18, 2015: Flight Design Ctls (N566FD), Mount Vernon, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of control. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84354. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393796&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Airplane Maintenance Logbook -- Excerpts (item 2, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393809&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Maintenance%20Logbook%20--%20Excerpts-Redacted.PDF - Materials Laboratory 15 - Factual Report 13-011 (with images) (item 3, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389337&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%2015%20-%20Factual%20Report%2013-011%20(with%20images)-Master.PDF - Weather Observations -- Union County Airport (KMRT) (item 4, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393855&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Observations%20--%20Union%20County%20Airport%20(KMRT)-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.