CEN20CA067

NTSB accident investigation · Glasair 1 · Greenville, TX · January 26, 2020

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
January 26, 2020, 16:40 local (22:40 UTC)
Place
Greenville, TX
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N238SHGlasair 1
Defining event
Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 27, 2020
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20200126001859A
Case key
100875

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate, which resulted in a hard landing, and his subsequent loss of airplane control during an attempted go-around.

Findings · 4

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: descent rateAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedPrince David L GLASAIR SH-2: 1 caseAll aircraft: 242 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedPrince David L GLASAIR SH-2: 1 caseAll aircraft: 390 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The flight was the pilot's initial flight in the airplane make and model. The pilot reported that, during the landing, he had no forward visibility. About 10 ft above the runway, he was unable to arrest the descent rate even with the control stick full aft. The airplane touched down hard, and the pilot added power for a go-around. He felt the airplane accelerate and attempted to maintain the airplane in a level attitude; however, the airplane began an uncommanded left roll. The pilot could not regain control of the airplane and reduced power to idle before the airplane touched down again, this time off the edge of the runway. The main landing gear dug into the soft ground, and the airplane spun around backward. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Before the flight, the pilot adjusted the linkage of the elevator to match design specifications. During the flight, he tested the stall characteristics of the airplane. Each time, the airplane stalled about 40 knots. The pilot reported that, at the time of the accident, the airplane was flying about 60 knots.

Factual narrative

The flight was the pilot's initial flight in the airplane make and model. The pilot reported that during the landing there was no forward visibility. About 10 ft above the runway, he was unable to arrest the descent rate even with the control stick full back. The airplane touched down hard and the pilot added power for a go-around. He felt the airplane accelerate and he maintained a level attitude; however, the airplane began an uncommanded left roll. The pilot could not regain control of the airplane and reduced power to idle prior to the airplane touching down a second time, this time off the edge of the runway. The main landing gear dug into the soft ground and the airplane spun around backward. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage during the landing.Prior to the flight, the pilot adjusted the linkage of the elevator to match design specifications. During the flight he tested the stall characteristics of the airplane. Each time, the airplane stalled around 40 knots. At the time of the accident, the pilot reported the airplane was around 60 knots. The circumstances are consistent with the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a go-around following a hard landing. There were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.

Aircraft

Registration
N238SH
Reported as
Glasair 1 (TD)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
238
Built
2007
Airframe hours
500
Engine
Eci OX-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Condition · June 24, 2019
Departed
ADS · Dallas, TX
Destination
GVT · Greenville, TX
Airport
GVT · Majors, runway 35, 8,030 × 150 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
61
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
October 15, 2019
Seat
Left
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
230 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
350° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
63 °F, dew point 54 °F
Altimeter
29.98 inHg
Observed at
KGVT

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 27, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 567 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.