# NTSB CEN23LA061: Orlican S R O M-8 Eagle, N602TG, St. Louis, MO, December 5, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 5, 2022, 17:28 local (23:28 UTC)
- Place: St. Louis, MO
- Coordinates: 38.724276, -90.509395 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7243&lon=-90.5094&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106422
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA061
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106422/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106422
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA061

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed/angle-of-attack during the landing approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Orlican S R O M-8 EAGLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=06001C5), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Orlican S R O M-8 EAGLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=06001C5), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Orlican S R O M-8 EAGLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=06001C5), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Orlican S R O M-8 EAGLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=06001C5), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Orlican S R O M-8 EAGLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=06001C5), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot and pilot-rated passenger, they performed one traffic pattern takeoff and landing before departing to a practice area with no issues noted while in the traffic pattern. After arriving to the practice area, the pilot initiated a climb and noted a caution indication for the right cylinder head temperature. The pilot reduced engine rpm and descended, and the cylinder temperatures again indicated normal. The pilot added full power to initiate a climb again and he reported that the engine “stuttered.” The pilot reduced the engine rpm; the engine operated without issue and the pilot added full power again. The pilot reported engine “stuttered” again and the stuttering continued when the rpms were reduced. The pilot elected to return to the airport, where the ground visibility was reducing due to dusk light conditions. The pilot reported that during the return flight to the airport the airplane was struggling to maintain altitude and that he had to fly nose-up to keep from descending. The pilot reported the engine continued to operate in a rough condition. About 20 ft above runway 16, the airplane began to sink, and the pilot added engine power. He stated the engine did not respond, and “we just fell.” The airplane impacted the runway, veered to the right, and nosed over. The pilot and passenger attempted to secure the airplane’s systems and extricated themselves from the airplane. The recorded flight and engine data revealed no anomalies consistent with what the pilot reported had occurred during the accident flight. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the evidence and available flight data, it is likely that the pilot failed to fly the airplane at the appropriate airspeed/angle-of-attack during the landing approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and hard landing.

## Factual narrative

On December 5, 2022, about 1728 central standard time, an Orlican S R O M-8 Eagle airplane, N602TG, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near St. Louis, Missouri. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he and the passenger performed one traffic pattern takeoff and landing before departing to a practice area. No issues were noted with the airplane or engine during the takeoff and landing. After arriving to the practice area, the pilot initiated a climb and noted the right cylinder head temperature went from the normal indication into the caution indication. The pilot reduced engine rpm, descended, and the cylinder temperatures went back into the normal indication. The pilot added full power to initiate a climb again, and the engine “stuttered.” The pilot reduced rpm, the engine operated without issue, and the pilot added full power again. The engine “stuttered” again and continued when the rpms were reduced. The pilot elected to return to the airport and reported the ground visibility was reducing due to dusk light conditions. The pilot reported that during the return flight to the airport, the airplane was struggling to maintain altitude, and he had to fly nose up to keep from descending. He reported the engine continued to operate in a rough condition until the attempted landing. About 20 ft above runway 16, the airplane began to sink, and the pilot added engine power. The pilot stated the engine did not respond, and “we just fell.” The airplane impacted the runway, veered to the right, and nosed over. The pilot and passenger attempted to secure the airplane’s systems and extricated themselves from the airplane. According to the pilot-rated passenger, the before takeoff checks, the engine run-up and other checks were normal. After takeoff, the pilot completed one traffic pattern circuit and departed to a designated practice area about 12 miles from the airport to perform other maneuvers. While in the practice area, at 2,000 ft above ground level, the engine or propeller began to vibrate, and the pilot elected to return to the airport. During the return, the engine would not maintain rpms. While on final approach, a higher than anticipated sink rate developed, and the airplane touched down hard onto the runway. During the touchdown, the nose landing gear separated, the airplane departed the runway, and flipped over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and rudder. The airplane was equipped with a Dynon SkyView HDX1100, and the electronic data files were extracted from the unit. The files contained sessions recorded from October 15, 2022, to December 8, 2022, and the accident flight was contained within the data. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Vehicle Recorders Laboratory reviewed the data and provided parameter plots of the accident flight. About 10seconds before the accident and during the approach, the airspeed was about 40 knots and decreasing, and no engine anomalies were noted. At 1728:21, the data showed an increase in vertical and lateral accelerations, a decrease in pitch angle, and the system played an engine monitoring system rpm audio alert, which was consistent with the propeller impacting the runway. No other alerts were noted during the flight before the accident sequence. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal engine operation. Two of the three composite propeller blades were sheared near the propeller hub, and two propeller strike marks were noted on the runway surface. According to the Pilot’s Operating Handbook, the stall speed in the landing configuration is 38 knots indicated airspeed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N602TG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N602TG), registered now, S/N 2022001, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ORLICAN S R O M-8 EAGLE
- Registry model: [Orlican S R O M-8 EAGLE](https://openairdocs.org/model/orlican-s-r-o-m-8-eagle) (registry code 05640NO) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2022001
- Year built: 2022
- Airframe hours: 85
- Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 21, 2022
- Airport: 1H0, Creve Coeur, runway 16, 4,500 × 75 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 21, 2022; seat: left; restraint: none; flight hours: 262 total, 8 in this make and model, 176 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days
- Pilot-rated passenger; age 27; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 13, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 94 total, 1 in this make and model, 40 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 90° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observed at: KSUS, 8 nm away
- METAR: METAR KSUS 052354Z 09004KT 10SM CLR 07/02 A2981 RMK AO2 SLP098 T00670017 10111 20067 53006=

## 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 20221205018559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221205018559A), Dec 5, 2022: Orlican S R O M-8 EAGLE, Saint Louis, MO, Substantial damage. The pilot, who is also the mechanic of the aircraft, had been working with an inflight engine problem over the previous month. There were two previous…

## Docket (11 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106422. 508 MB in all.

- EFIS - specialist's factual report (item 1, PDF, 14 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15633369&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=EFIS%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_CEN23LA061-Rel.pdf
- Attachment 1 to EFIS - specialist's factual report_tabular data (item 2, CSV, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15632446&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%201%20to%20EFIS%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_CEN23LA061_Tabular%20Data-Rel.csv
- Attachment 2 to EFIS - specialist's factual report_alert data (item 3, CSV, 7 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15634200&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%202%20to%20EFIS%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_CEN23LA061_Alert%20Data-Rel.csv
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 4, PDF, 11 pages, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15743088&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pilot%20Owner_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - passenger (item 5, PDF, 13 pages, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15742967&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pilot%20Rated%20Passenger_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation - Rotax engines - engine examination (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15743191&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Rotax%20-%20Engine%20Examination-Rel.pdf
- Email correspondence - dynon/rotax/ntsb (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15743201&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Email%20Correspondence%20-%20Dynon_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- X-plane simulation - produced by orlican (item 8, MP4, 487 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15742834&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=N602TG_accident-Rel.mp4
- Email correspondence - orlican - simulation and analysis (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15742385&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Orlican%20Email%20-%20Simulation%20and%20Analysis_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's operating handbook - excerpt of airspeed limitations (item 10, PDF, 1 page, 212 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15743098&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=POH%20Excerpt%20Airspeed%20Limitations-Rel.pdf
- Accident photographs (item 11, PDF, 4 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15743527&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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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