# NTSB CEN22LA210: Ercoupe 415-C, N3530H, Angola, IN, May 16, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 16, 2022, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Angola, IN
- Coordinates: 41.63986, -85.083145 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6399&lon=-85.0831&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: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105121
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA210
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105121/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105121
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA210

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and the nose landing gear collapse.

## 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 · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=0420322), [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: [Ercoupe 415-C, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0420322), [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: [Ercoupe 415-C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he completed a normal traffic pattern and was on final approach in gusting wind conditions. About 10 ft above the runway, the airplane encountered a gust of wind, and the pilot was unable to control the descent rate. The airplane landed hard, and the nose landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall, fuselage, and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3530H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3530H), registered now, S/N 4155, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ERCOUPE 415-C
- Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420322) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4155
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 4464.7
- Engines: Continental Motors C85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ultraflight LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 30, 2021
- Departed: OEB, Coldwater, MI
- Destination: ANQ, Angola, IN
- Airport: ANQ, Tri-State Steuben County Airport, runway 23, 4,540 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: basicmed; last flight review July 14, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 317 total, 27 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 16 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KGWB, 20 nm away
- METAR: KGWB 161815Z AUTO 28010G19KT 10SM SCT070 SCT085 22/08 A2983 RMK AO2

## 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 20220516006429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220516006429A), May 16, 2022: Ercoupe 415-C, Angola, IN, Substantial damage. On or about may 16, 2022, at approximately 1737 EDT, a 1946 Ercoupe 415-C, a fixed-wing single-engine airplane bearing registration N3530H (sn: 4155),…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 1, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105121. 5.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13930792&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� accident details (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13930113&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20Accident%20Details-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 247 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13931409&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20photos-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.

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