# NTSB CHI01LA028: Piper PT-46, N1RQ, Eden Prairie, MN, October 20, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 20, 2000, 18:10 local (23:10 UTC)
- Place: Eden Prairie, MN
- Coordinates: 44.860992, -93.430557 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8610&lon=-93.4306&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 2, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 50571
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50571/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA028

## Probable cause

the pilot misjudging the landing flare, and his failure to recover from the bounced landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear - collapsed

## Analysis

The pilot said that during the landing he noticed the airplane start to float up.  'When [the] plane came back down, it began to bounce up and down.  On the third of maybe 5 or 6 bounces, the prop struck the ground.'  An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies.

## Factual narrative

On October 20, 2000, at 1810 central daylight time (cdt), a Piper PT-46, N1RQ, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when the airplane's propeller struck the runway and the nose gear collapsed during a bounced landing on runway 27L (3,909 feet by 75 feet, dry asphalt) at the Flying Cloud Airport, Eden Prairie, Minnesota.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.  A visual rules flight plan was on file.  The pilot reported no injuries.  The cross-country flight originated at Dowagiac, Michigan, and was en route to Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

In his written statement, the pilot said that "upon wheels landing, I noticed that I started to float up.  When [the] plane came back down, it began to bounce up and down.  On the third of maybe 5 or 6 bounces, the prop struck the ground."

An examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, revealed the engine firewall bent up and aft.  The propeller blades were twisted and bent aft.  The cowling and forward fuselage skin were wrinkled.  Flight control continuity was confirmed.  An examination of the engine and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1RQ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Piper PT-46
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46-36171
- Airframe hours: 551
- Engines: P&W PT-6A-34 560 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Randall Raymond Quast
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: C91, DOWAGIAC, MI
- Destination: FCM
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: FCM, Flying Cloud Airport, runway 27L, 3,909 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 981 total, 39 in this make and model, 847 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FCM, 1 nm away

## 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 20001020015829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001020015829A), Oct 20, 2000: Piper PA46350P, Minneapolis, MN, No damage. (-23) A/c porpoised on landing striking the propeller, collapsing the nose gear and causing damage to the firewall.

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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