# NTSB CEN13CA120: Robidoux Lionel Wittman W 10, N641TD, Hobart, IN, December 30, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 30, 2012, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Hobart, IN - Coordinates: 41.552501, -87.257499 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5525&lon=-87.2575&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 April 3, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA South Bend FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85928 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85928/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85928 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA120 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robidoux Lionel WITTMAN W 10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05606EN), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robidoux Lionel WITTMAN W 10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=05606EN), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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: [Robidoux Lionel WITTMAN W 10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05606EN), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Robidoux Lionel WITTMAN W 10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05606EN), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane’s airspeed was about 20 mph slower than normal when he turned on final approach. After clearing obstructions at the end of the runway, the pilot started to flare for a landing when the airplane suddenly dropped and impacted the runway surface. The hard landing partially collapsed the left main landing gear and resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane and noted that the accident could have been prevented if he had maintained a safe airspeed. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the airplane’s airspeed was about 20 mph slower than normal when he turned on final approach. After clearing obstructions at the end of the runway the pilot started to flare for a landing when the airplane suddenly dropped and impacted the runway surface. The hard landing partially collapsed the left main landing gear and resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures associated with the airplane prior to the accident and noted that the accident could have been prevented if he had maintained a safe airspeed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N641TD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N641TD), registered now, S/N 456, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBIDOUX LIONEL WITTMAN W 10 - Registry model: [Robidoux Lionel WITTMAN W 10](https://openairdocs.org/model/robidoux-lionel-wittman-w-10) (registry code 05606EN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 456 - Airframe hours: 790 - Engines: LYCOMING O-290 SERIES 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 26, 2012, 26 hours before - Departed: 3HO, Hobart, IN - Destination: 3HO, Hobart, IN - Airport: 3HO, Hobart Sky Ranch Airport, runway 18, 3,125 × 40 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 24, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 227 total, 39 in this make and model, 157 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: KGYY, 8 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 20121230027699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121230027699A), Dec 30, 2012: Robidoux Lionel WITTMAN W 10, Hobart, IN, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that after a half hour flight he returned to 3H0 for landing on runway 18. Weather was VFR with wind from the southwest at 10 mph, presenting less… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 7, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85928. 155 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 155 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384491&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.