CHI08LA286

NTSB accident investigation · Flight Design Ctsw · Delaware, OH · September 24, 2008

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 24, 2008, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
Place
Delaware, OH
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N63DHFlight Design Ctsw
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 25, 2009
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA-Columbus FSDO
FAA report
20080924851509A
Case key
69042

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedFlight Design CTSW: 6 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotFlight Design CTSW: 20 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The student pilot was conducting takeoffs and landings on a solo flight when the accident occurred. He had successfully completed one landing. After touchdown on the second landing, the airplane began to oscillate from side to side. The student pilot's efforts to regain directional control were not successful. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, and the right wing tip subsequently struck the ground. The nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest nose down in the grass adjacent to the runway. A postaccident inspection of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies associated with a preimpact failure.

Factual narrative

On September 24, 2008, about 1900 eastern daylight time, a Flight Design GmbH CTSW light sport airplane, N63DH, piloted by a student pilot, was substantially damaged during landing on runway 10 (5,000 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) at the Delaware Municipal Airport (DLZ), Delaware, Ohio. The solo instructional flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The student pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight departed DLZ about 1845. The student pilot reported that after touchdown on the second landing of the solo flight, the airplane began to drift from side to side. He attempted to regain directional control; however, as the airplane drifted toward the left, the right wing tip contacted the ground. The airplane subsequently departed the pavement and nosed down in the grass adjacent to the runway. The student's flight instructor reported that he witnessed the accident. He noted that the second landing appeared to be smooth. However, shortly after touchdown the airplane drifted to the left. The pilot appeared to recover, but then the nose began to oscillate from side to side. The oscillations subsequently became larger. He heard the engine pitch increase and saw the airplane accelerate. The airplane subsequently departed the runway pavement and rolled to the left. The left wing tip appeared to touch the ground. He recalled that the engine pitch increased again to what sounded like full power. The airplane yawed left and the right main landing gear appeared to dig into the ground, causing the right wing tip to strike the ground. The nose landing gear subsequently collapsed, and the airplane came to rest nose down in the grass. The student pilot exited the airplane under his own power.

Aircraft

Registration
N63DH
Reported as
Flight Design Ctsw
Category
Airplane
Serial number
07-06-20
Engine
Rotax 912ULS, 100 horsepower
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Flying Pig Express LLC
Registered owner
Flying Pig Express LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Special light-sport (Special)
Departed
DLZ · Delaware, OH
Destination
DLZ · Delaware, OH
Airport
DLZ · Delaware Municipal, runway 10, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Student pilot
Age
39
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Student
Medical
Sport pilot
Last flight review
April 14, 2008
Seat
Left
Flight hours
42 total · 10 in this make and model · 25 as pilot in command · 18 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
120° at 4 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Observed at
DLZ

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.