# NTSB CEN24LA217: Zenith Stol CH 750, N17SD, Caney, TX, June 11, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 11, 2024, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Caney, TX - Coordinates: 28.973247, -95.863452 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9732&lon=-95.8635&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: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 194445 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA217 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194445/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194445 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA217 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing, ## 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: [Patrick Dufilho STOL CH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05641IW), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Patrick Dufilho STOL CH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05641IW), [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: [Patrick Dufilho STOL CH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05641IW), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Patrick Dufilho STOL CH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05641IW), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during a short field landing, the airplane was high as it crossed the runway threshold. The pilot reduced power and lifted the nose of the airplane. The airplane landed hard, the propeller struck the ground, and the nose landing gear collapsed under the fuselage. The airplane came to rest on its nose and sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N17SD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17SD), registered now, S/N 75-10113, built 2023 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Zenith Aircraft Company STOL CH 750 - Registry model: [Patrick Dufilho STOL CH 750](https://openairdocs.org/model/patrick-dufilho-stol-ch-750) (registry code 05641IW) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 75-10113 - Year built: 2023 - Airframe hours: 24 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 11, 2023 - Departed: BYY, Caney, TX - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: BYY, Bay City Regional Airport, runway 13, 5,107 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review September 10, 2023; seat: left; flight hours: 106 total, 8 in this make and model, 60 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: KBYY - METAR: KBYY 111555Z AUTO 12003KT 10SM SCT025 SCT034 SCT040 31/23 A2988 RMK AO2 T03080237 ## 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 20240611007959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240611007959A), Jun 11, 2024: Patrick Dufilho STOL CH 750, Bay City, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that he had been performing "touch and goes" at the airport. Upon the final landing, pilot had flaps extended and pulled the engine throttle back… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194445. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17327944&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN24LA217%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17328203&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN24LA217%20Photo%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. --- 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.