# NTSB CHI88DEC04: Perkins Dragonfly, N192AP, Fowlerville, MI, July 2, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 2, 1988, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place: Fowlerville, MI
- Coordinates: 42.660972, -84.069084 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6610&lon=-84.0691&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13847
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI88DEC04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13847/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88DEC04

## Probable cause

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN POSITIVE CONTROL OF HIS HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT BY TAKING APPROPRIATE ACTIONS FOR RECOVERY FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND ABRUPTLY ON THE THIRD BOUNCE AND THE UPPER WING SPAR FAILED. THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THE HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR, AND THE AIRCRAFT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN UNDERDESIGNED.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE HAD 3 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THE HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT. HE STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED A POWER-OFF LANDING AND THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED. ON THE THIRD BOUNCE 'THE (RIGHT WING) SPAR POPPED.' THE PILOT STATED THAT 'THIS IS A LEARNING CURVE ACCIDENT' AND INDICATED THAT MORE TIME PRACTICING SLOW FLIGHT AND LANDINGS IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT WOULD HAVE HELPED PREVENT THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING DUE TO A HARD LANDING DURING IT'S MAIDEN FLIGHT IN APRIL, 1986. THE FLIGHT DURING WHICH THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED WAS THE AIRCRAFT'S FIRST FLIGHT SINCE THAT ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N192AP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N192AP-2022-09-03), registration cancelled 2022-09-03, S/N 192, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PERKINS DRAGONFLY
- Registry model: [Perkins Allen R VIKING DRAGONFLY](https://openairdocs.org/model/perkins-allen-r-viking-dragonfly) (registry code 05644LD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 192
- Airframe hours: 2
- Engines: Hapi 60-2DM 60 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Allen R. Perkins
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Airport: 65G, Maple Grove, runway 27, 3,040 × 110 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 476 total, 3 in this make and model, 404 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19880702025769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880702025769A), Jul 2, 1988: Amtr DRAGONFLY, Fowlerville, MI, Substantial damage. Hard landing, bounced, broke the wing spar on impact.

## Other investigations on N192AP (1)

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 CHI86FEM04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86FEM04), Apr 6, 1986: Perkins Viking Dragonfly (N192AP), Lansing, MI, substantial damage

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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