# NTSB CEN21LA134: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, N465US, Indianapolis, IN, February 21, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 21, 2021, 11:10 local (16:10 UTC) - Place: Indianapolis, IN - Coordinates: 39.935389, -86.045068 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9354&lon=-86.0451&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - 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): 102662 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102662/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102662 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA134 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare that resulted in a bounced touch and go landing and subsequent nose wheel separation. ## 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; cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot flew to a local airport to practice touch and go landings, entered the traffic pattern, and landed on the active runway. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced. The pilot added power and recalled that the nose jumped up slightly during the climb. The pilot continued to his destination. During the landing, when the nose touched the runway surface, the pilot heard a “scraping” sound. After the airplane came to a complete stop, the two occupants exited the airplane uninjured. Examination of the airplane revealed that the wheel of the nose landing gear was missing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the composite firewall. The missing wheel was later located at the previous airport where the pilot had performed the bounced touch and go landing. Examination of the wheel and tire assembly did not reveal any pre-existing anomalies. It is likely that the nose wheel assembly separated from the airplane during the bounced landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N465US](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N465US), registered now, S/N C0405, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA20-C1 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da20-c1) (registry code 2990001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-240-B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-240-b) (registry code 17177, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C0405 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 4289 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-240-B 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sweet Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Sweet Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: None - Last inspection: Annual, December 18, 2020 - Departed: SMD, Fort Wayne, IN - Airport: UMP, Indianapolis Metro, runway 15, 4,004 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 28, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 107 total, 6 in this make and model, 37 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: KTYQ, 11 nm away - METAR: KTYQ 211615Z AUTO 15009KT 10SM CLR M02/M07 A3031 RMK AO2 T10161067 ## 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 20210221000929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210221000929A), Feb 21, 2021: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA20-C1, Fishers, IN, Substantial damage. On February 21, 2021, at approximately 1110 eastern standard time (EST) (1610Z), a Diamond DA20, N465US, sustained substantial damage after landing without a… ## Other investigations on N465US (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA08LA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA008), Oct 11, 2007: Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-C1 (N465US), Santaquin, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Factors include rough/uneven vegetation-covered terrain at the location where the pilot executed his emergency forced landing. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 16, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102662. 8.6 MB in all. - NTSB form 6120 pilot operator report CEN21LA134 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12132169&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Pilot%20Operator%20Report%20CEN21LA134_Redacted-Rel.pdf - _Memorandum for the record summary of FAA inspector findings CEN21LA134 (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 213 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12577213&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=_Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Summary%20of%20FAA%20Inspector%20Findings%20CEN21LA134_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array CEN21LA134 (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 6.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12133963&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN21LA134-Rel.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.