# NTSB CHI06LA281: Univar Ercoupe, N99811, Howell, MI, January 10, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 10, 2006, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Howell, MI - Coordinates: 42.600971, -83.929008 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6010&lon=-83.9290&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 28, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviaition Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73833 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06LA281 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73833/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73833 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06LA281 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare and lack of total experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command ## Analysis The student pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings when the airplane bounced during the fourth landing attempt. The pilot lowered the nosewheel down onto the runway to maintain directional control; however, the airplane continued to bounce on the nosewheel. The nose landing gear strut collapsed and the airplane veered off the runway, impacting a ditch. The airplane sustained damage to the firewall and fuselage skin, resulting in substantial damage. ## Factual narrative On January 10, 2006, at 1300 eastern standard time, a Univar Ercoupe 415-C, N99811, owned and operated by a student pilot, received substantial damage when it bounced hard on the nosewheel and departed the runway and impacted terrain at Livingston County Spencer J. Hardy Airport, Howell, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 student solo flight was not operating on a flight plan. The student pilot was uninjured. The local flight originated at 1200. The pilot stated that he was practicing takeoffs and landings when the airplane bounced during the fourth landing attempt. The pilot lowered the nose wheel down onto the runway to maintain directional control; however, the airplane continued to bounce on the nose wheel. The nose landing gear strut collapsed, and the airplane veered off the runway impacting a ditch. He stated that the damage to the airplane was minor and the engine was disassembled and inspected due to a sudden stoppage when the propeller struck the ground. A post accident maintenance logbook entry indicates that the firewall was buckled and had to be repaired and the lower fuselage skins were damaged and had to be repaired. The accident was not reported to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and was discovered during the investigation of the pilot's third accident, which was investigated under NTSB accident number CEN09LA291. The maintenance personnel who performed the repair stated that they didn't think the damage was bad enough to report the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99811](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N99811), registered now, S/N 2434, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Univar Ercoupe (415-C) - Registry model: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420312) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2434 - Airframe hours: 2064.53 - Engines: Continental C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 7, 2005 - Departed: OZW, Howell, MI - Destination: OZW, Howell, MI - Airport: OZW, Livingston County Spencer J. H, runway 13, 4,300 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; student; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; flight hours: 72 total, 27 in this make and model, 16 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: OZW ## Other investigations on N99811 (2) 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. - [NTSB CEN09LA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA291), May 12, 2009: Univair Ercoupe (N99811), Brighton, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point, and his failure to initiate a go-around. - [NTSB CHI07CA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA110), Apr 21, 2007: Engineering & Research Ercoupe 415-C (N99811), Brighton, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain proper glidepath to the runway. Contributing factors to the accident included the passenger vehicle, the rising embankment, and the airport perimeter fence. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 13, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73833. 725 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 553 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315894&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Weather (item 2, .PDF, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315895&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather-Master.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.