# NTSB CHI08LA228: Evektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar, N605EV, Maple Lake, MN, July 28, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 28, 2008, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Maple Lake, MN - Coordinates: 45.235832, -93.985557 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2358&lon=-93.9856&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 29, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68701 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08LA228 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68701/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08LA228 ## Probable cause The certified flight instructor's delayed remedial action to the encountered stall. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's slow airspeed and inadvertent stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0600012), [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: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stalled the airplane during the landing flare. The certified flight instructor (CFI) added engine power and the airplane bounced during the hard landing. The CFI elected to perform a go around and stalled the airplane. The airplane subsequently impacted in an uneven field and was substantially damaged. The CFI reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane reference the accident flight. ## Factual narrative On July 28, 2008, approximately 1100 central daylight time, N605EV, an Evektor-Aerotechnik AS airplane, piloted by a certified flight instructor (CFI), sustained substantial damage during landing at the Maple Lake Municipal Airport, near Maple Lake, Minnesota. The airplane was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 on a local instructional flight and a flight plan was not filed. The CFI and dual student pilot reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area at the time of the accident. The CFI reported that the purpose of the flight was to provide instruction on short and soft field takeoffs and landings. The CFI briefed the student on those maneuvers to include a discussion concerning the desired flare where they "should be able to reduce the power to idle and sink through the ground effect to touchdown on the runway with minimal float." The CFI stated that they flew the final approach at 55 knots as per the operating instructions. The student flared early, about 30 feet above the runway, and reduced power to idle. The student then made a comment about slowing down. The CFI said that before he realized how slow they had gotten, the stall horn sounded. The CFI went to add full power, but the airplane stalled and impacted on the runway. He estimated that they were 15 feet above the runway. When the airplane bounced, the CFI decided to "keep the power in to soften the second landing." That's when the airplane veered off the right side of the runway. The CFI decided to keep in full power and continue the go-around, but he also thought about keeping the nose wheel off the ground since they were headed for a field. With the back pressure in, the airplane inadvertently entered a stall. The CFI estimated that "the airplane stalled a total of three times prior to it striking the ground." The CFI reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. The CFI stated that he should have had more training on the flight characteristics of the airplane. He said, "The Sportstar is a light airplane with little mass to maintain momentum, or to recover momentum should a loss of airspeed occur. If the airplane stalls and the nose is lowered to regain airspeed, it takes much longer to regain the airspeed needed to break the stall. Power is the critical ingredient to breaking the stall in a light airplane." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N605EV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N605EV), registered now, S/N 2006 0605, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Evektor-Aerotechnik AS Sportstar - Registry model: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/evektor-aerotechnik-sportstar) (registry code 0600012) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2006 0605 - Airframe hours: 606 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Wright Aero Inc. - Registered owner: Wright Aero Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 16, 2008 - Departed: MGG, Maple Lake, MN - Airport: MGG, Maple Lake Municipal Airport, runway 10, 2,796 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 41; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 3, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 574 total, 20 in this make and model, 491 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 57; injuries: none; student; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; flight hours: 38 total, 14 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: CFE ## 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 20080728843309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080728843309A), Jul 28, 2008: Amtr SPORTSTAR, Maple Lake, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) Flight instruction was giving instruction on short field landing. The student was established on final approach but flared the aircraft at approximately… 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.