# NTSB CEN23LA200: Flight Design Ctsw, N165CT, Gregory, MI, May 23, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 23, 2023, 09:46 local (13:46 UTC) - Place: Gregory, MI · Grass airstrip - Coordinates: 42.441702, -84.064361 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4417&lon=-84.0644&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 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: BFU, FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 192230 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA200 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192230/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192230 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA200 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare that resulted in a hard, bounced landing and subsequent overstress failure of the nose landing gear. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 72 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/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: [Flight Design CTSW, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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: [Flight Design CTSW, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing on a grass runway with a slight right quartering tailwind. During the landing, the nose landing gear bounced after touchdown then separated from the airplane. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The fuselage and empennage sustained substantial damage. Metallurgical examination of the nose landing gear rotation unit revealed the fracture surfaces were consistent with shear overstress. A review of the maintenance logbooks revealed that the nose landing gear had been replaced two previous times due to hard landing events. No anomalies were noted with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the landing was harder than the pilot perceived, which resulted in the shear overstress of the nose landing gear. ## Factual narrative On May 23, 2023, about 0946 eastern daylight time, a Flight Design GMBH CTSW, N165CT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Richmond Field Airport (69G), Gregory, Michigan. The pilot was not injured. The flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot reported that after a 40-minute flight he overflew 69G to familiarize himself with the area and the condition of the turf runway before he entered a left traffic pattern for runway 36. The automated weather observing system reported the wind was nearly calm. He flew the final approach at the “appropriate speed with 40 degrees of flaps” extended. During the landing, the nose landing gear gently bounced after touchdown then the nose collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector stated that the nose landing gear strut was found separated at the fork. A flight control continuity check was completed, and no anomalies were found. Photos of the airplane revealed the fuselage and empennage sustained substantial damage. Metallurgical examination of the nose landing gear rotation unit revealed the fracture surfaces were consistent with shear overstress. A review of the maintenance logbooks revealed that the nose landing gear had been replaced two previous times due to hard landing events. No anomalies were noted with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Recorded wind at the time of the accident was from 140° at 4 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N165CT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N165CT), registered now, S/N 06-03-09, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTSW - Registry model: [Flight Design CTSW](https://openairdocs.org/model/flight-design-ctsw) (registry code 0600001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 06-03-09 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 600 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Cameron Michael F - Registered owner: Cameron Michael F - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 8, 2023, 5 hours before - Departed: KONZ, Grosse Lle Township, MI - Destination: 69G, Gregory, MI - Airport: 69G, Richmond Field Airport, runway 36, 2,471 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, unknown; last flight review May 5, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 220 total, 84 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KOZW, 12 nm away - METAR: KOZW 231415Z AUTO 14004KT 10SM CLR 18/11 A3020 RMK AO2 T01800106 ## 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 20230523007939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230523007939A), May 23, 2023: Flight Design Gmbh CTSW, Gregory, MI, Substantial damage. Meet with pilot of aircraft, confirmed he was un-injured. Pilot commented police and EMS were called and responded by accident feature in his cell phone. A… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192230. 6.2 MB in all. - Unadilla township police report (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16458734&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Police%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120 1 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16680624&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%201%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB materials laboratory factual report (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16458788&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%20Factual%20Report%20for%20CEN23LA200-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16465002&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16677950&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Powerplant logbook (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 548 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16539792&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Powerplant%20Logbook_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airframe logbook (item 7, PDF, 5 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16540425&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20Logbook_Redacted-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.