# NTSB CHI05CA247: Piper PA-28-181, N8103V, Ypsilanti, MI, August 28, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 28, 2005, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Ypsilanti, MI
- Coordinates: 42.238056, -83.530281
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2381&lon=-83.5303&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Belleville, MI FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62430
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05CA247
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62430/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA247

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in his inability to properly flare the airplane and the subsequent hard landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

The airplane experienced a hard landing while landing on a private grass airstrip.  The pilot reported, "... we crossed the electric wires and as soon as we were across we made a slight dip in flight to get down... ."  He reported he then pulled back on the control yoke to flare and added power to increase the pitch attitude; however, the engine power did not increase.  The pilot reported the airplane "...made a very hard landing" during which the left main and nose gear collapsed.  The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures/malfunctions of the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On August 28, 2005, at 1600 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N8103V, experienced a hard landing on runway 18 (2,000 feet by 50 feet, grass) on a private airstrip in Ypsilanti, Michigan.  The private pilot was not injured.  The airplane was substantially damaged.  The Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.  The flight originated from Adrian, Michigan, at 1540.

The pilot reported, "... we crossed the electric wires and as soon as we were across we made a slight dip in flight to get down... ."  He reported he then pulled back on the control yoke to flare and added power to increase the pitch attitude; however, the engine power did not increase.  The pilot reported the airplane "...made a very hard landing" during which the left main and nose gears collapsed.

The pilot reported on the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8103V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8103V-2013-06-11), registration cancelled 2013-06-11, S/N 28-8090118, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8090118
- Engines: Lycoming O-360 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Winford French
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Departed: ADG, Adrian, MI
- Destination: PVT, Ypsilanti, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 600 total, 600 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 12 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observed at: YIP

## 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 20050828024769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050828024769A), Aug 28, 2005: Piper PA28181, Ypsilanti, MI, Destroyed. (-23) According to the pilot [privacy data omitted] the pilot [privacy data omitted] departed haywood airport enroute to adrian (adg) at approximately 15:30…

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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