# NTSB CEN20CA059: Zenith CH 750, N227L, Xenia, OH, December 23, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 23, 2019, 15:04 local (20:04 UTC) - Place: Xenia, OH - Coordinates: 39.690834, -83.992774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6908&lon=-83.9928&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 16, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 100815 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100815/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100815 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA059 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing, which resulted in the right tire contacting the runway first followed by the left wing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Terrance E Lambert ZENITH CH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05638G5), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Terrance E Lambert ZENITH CH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05638G5), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Terrance E Lambert ZENITH CH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05638G5), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Terrance E Lambert ZENITH CH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05638G5), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Terrance E Lambert ZENITH CH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05638G5), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Terrance E Lambert ZENITH CH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=05638G5), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the flight was the first flight of the experimental, amateur-built airplane. He stated that he was lined up with the runway centerline for landing, that the airspeed was 60 mph, and that the tachometer was showing 1,600 rpm when he felt the right tire contact the runway. He said "in an instant the left wing came down and the left tire and axle [were] sheared off. The left wing impacted the runway and the plane skidded about 40 feet and came to a full stop." The pilot used a higher landing airspeed because he had been told by other builders of that airplane that he needed to land with speed "so as not [to] get near the stall speed as this aircraft does have leading edge slats and this equates to a high lift wing." Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the nose landing gear and the left wing strut sustained substantial damage. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the flight was the first flight of the experimental amateur- built airplane. He was landing at the airport when the accident occurred. He stated that he was lined up with the runway center line, that his airspeed was 60 mph, and the tachometer registered 1,600 rpm, when he felt the right tire contact the runway. He said, "In an instant the left wing came down and the left tire and axle [were] sheared off. The left wing contacted the runway and the plane skidded about 40 feet and came to a full stop." The pilot stated he used a higher landing airspeed since he had been told by other builders of that airplane that he needed to land with speed "so as not get near the stall speed as this aircraft does have leading edge slats and this equates to a high lift wing." The pilot stated that the wind was calm, the altimeter setting was 30.12 inches, and the temperature was 55°F. The wind recorded at an airport 8 miles north of the accident airport was from 200° at 12 knots. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing tip was bent up, the nose landing gear "U" channel was bent 90°, and the skin around the left wing strut and landing gear attachment points were buckled. There were no reported preimpact anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N227L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N227L), registered now, S/N 75-8165 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ZENITH CH 750 - Registry model: [Terrance E Lambert ZENITH CH 750](https://openairdocs.org/model/terrance-e-lambert-zenith-ch-750) (registry code 05638G5) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 75-8165 - Year built: 2019 - Engines: Corvette 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: I19, Xenia, OH - Destination: I19, Xenia, OH - Airport: I19, Greene County-Lewis A Jackson, runway 25, 5,004 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 341 total, 5 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KFFO ## 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 20191223023299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191223023299A), Dec 23, 2019: Terrance E Lambert ZENITH CH 750, Xenia, OH, Substantial damage. This was the first flight for new amateur built experimental aircraft. Pilot took off from I19 and flew in the local area for 30 minutes as the pilot was… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 7, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100815. 553 KB in all. - Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482055&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Pertinent E-mails (item 2, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482056&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pertinent%20E-mails-Master.PDF - Report Photos (item 3, .PDF, 324 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482057&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20Photos-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.