# NTSB CEN14CA207: Flight Design Ctsw, N298AB, Bloomington, IN, April 19, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 19, 2014, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Bloomington, IN - Coordinates: 39.145832, -86.616668 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1458&lon=-86.6167&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 May 5, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 89092 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA207 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89092/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89092 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA207 ## Probable cause The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane while 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 CTSW, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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 CTSW, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the winds were gusting from 14 to 19 knots when he was cleared to land on runway 17. As the pilot reduced the airspeed, the airplane "lost lift and began to drop rapidly." The pilot added full power; however, the airplane landed hard, bounced, and porpoised. The nosewheel landing gear bent aft resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Wind at the time of the accident was recorded as 090 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 14 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that the winds were gusting from 14 to 19 knots when he was cleared to land on runway 17. As the pilot reduced the airspeed, the airplane "lost lift and began to drop rapidly." The pilot added full power; however, the airplane landed hard, bounced, and porpoised. The nosewheel landing gear bent aft resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Wind at the time of the accident was recorded as 090 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 14 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N298AB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N298AB), registered now, S/N 05-09-10, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTSW - Registry model: [Flight Design CTSW](https://openairdocs.org/model/flight-design-ctsw) (registry code 0600001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 05-09-10 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 438.4 - Engines: Rotax GmBH ULS2 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 1, 2014 - Departed: KBMG, Bloomington, IN - Destination: KBMG, Bloomington, IN - Airport: KBMG, Monroe County Airport, runway 17, 6,500 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 84; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review October 22, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,108 total, 438 in this make and model, 1,027 as pilot in command, 10.6 in the last 90 days, 5.9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 9 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: KBMG, 5 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 20140419005099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140419005099A), Apr 19, 2014: Flight Design Gmbh CTSW, Bloomington, IN, Substantial damage. On April 19, 2014, about 1330 eastern daylight time, a Flight design light sport gmbh, model Ctsw, N298AB, was substantially damaged during landing at the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 28, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89092. 453 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 453 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411589&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.