# NTSB CEN22LA418: Zenith CH701, N107GM, Stanton, MN, September 13, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 13, 2022, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Stanton, MN - Coordinates: 44.4755, -93.0163 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4755&lon=-93.0163&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: 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: FAA-MPLS FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105932 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA418 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105932/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105932 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA418 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a bounced landing and the nose landing gear collapsing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mckenna Glen R ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05629S2), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: recent experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Mckenna Glen R ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035/cases.md?model=05629S2), [All aircraft, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Mckenna Glen R ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05629S2), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mckenna Glen R ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05629S2), [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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Mckenna Glen R ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05629S2), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Mckenna Glen R ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05629S2), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Mckenna Glen R ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05629S2), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while landing on a grass runway, the airplane bounced, and the nose of the airplane pitched up. The pilot attempted to push the nose back down while the airplane was about 10-15 feet off the ground. The airplane impacted the grass runway and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest about 80 feet from the initial impact. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported to an inspector that he hadn’t flown in many years and did not have a current flight review. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N107GM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N107GM-2023-11-11), registration cancelled 2023-11-11, S/N 7-5314, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ZENITH CH701 - Registry model: [Mckenna Glen R ZENITH CH 701](https://openairdocs.org/model/mckenna-glen-r-zenith-ch-701) (registry code 05629S2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 2200](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-2200) (registry code 34800, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 7-5314 - Year built: 2010 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Destination: KSYN, Stanton, MN - Airport: SYN, Stanton Airfield, runway 36, 2,582 × 200 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; flight hours: 320 total, 2 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KSYN - METAR: KSYN 132335Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 22/15 A2996 RMK AO2 T02230150 ## 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 20220913018359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220913018359A), Sep 13, 2022: Mckenna Glen R ZENITH CH 701, Stanton, MN, Substantial damage. 09-13-2022 1845 Central [privacy data omitted] accident Stanton MN The PIC had just purchased the aircraft and was flying it from the previous owner’s private… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105932. 1.8 MB in all. - Photos (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15201534&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15202490&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Curtis%20Johnson%20-%20KSYN%20incident%20narrative_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - summary of report (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15209484&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20CEN22LA418-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.