# NTSB CEN20CA232: Piper PA46, N27RZ, Ely, MN, June 16, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 16, 2020, 11:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Ely, MN - Coordinates: 47.899051, -91.850921 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8991&lon=-91.8509&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101449 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA232 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101449/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA232 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and the nose landing gear collapse during a gusty landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7104620), [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he encountered moderate to severe turbulence below 5,000 ft mean sea level while descending to land on runway 30. During the landing flare the left wing abruptly raised up. The airplane touched down hard and bounced. The airplane settled down, the nose wheel collapsed, and the airplane skidded to a stop. The engine mount sustained substantial damage. The prevailing wind was from 230° at 11 knots gusting to 15 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27RZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N27RZ), registered now, S/N 4636299 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA46 (350P) - Registry model: [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p) (registry code 7104620) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4636299 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 1009 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Private Individual - Registered owner: Rjc Investments Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: LNK, Lincoln, NE - Destination: ELO, Ely, MN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ELO, Ely Municipal Airport, runway 30, 5,596 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 5, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,086.3 total, 253 in this make and model, 208.6 as pilot in command, 3.8 in the last 90 days, 3.8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 11 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: ELO ## 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 20200616006049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200616006049A), Jun 16, 2020: Piper PA 46-350P, Ely, MN, Substantial damage. 2020-06-16 Piper malibu N27RZ landed on rwy 30 at Ely, MN municipal airport kelo. The aircraft tracks on the rwy show prop strikes, 6 of them, followed by a… 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.