# NTSB CHI95LA325: Bede BD12, N112BD, Chesterfield, MO, September 14, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 14, 1995, 11:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Chesterfield, MO - Coordinates: 38.649749, -90.530403 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6497&lon=-90.5304&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/800) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 8, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10035 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA325 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10035/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA325 ## Probable cause THE AIRPLANE'S INADEQUATE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS WHICH RESULTED IN THE INABILITY TO CONTROL PITCH ATTITUDE DURING LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, other - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - acft/equip,inadequate handling/perf capabilities, owner/builder (cause) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear - overload ## Analysis THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT TEST MISSION WAS FOR HIGH SPEED TAXI TESTS WITH THE INTENT TO LIFT OFF THE GROUND FOR A FLIGHT ABOVE THE RUNWAY. AFTER LIFTOFF THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE'S LONGITUDINAL HANDLING QUALITIES WERE UNDESIREABLE. HE SAID HE COULD NOT ACHIEVE A PROPER AIRPLANE PITCH ATTITUDE TO ESTABLISH A FLARE LANDING ATTITUDE BEFORE THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN HARD. ## Factual narrative On September 14, 1995, at 1150 central daylight time (cdt), a Bede BD-12, N112BD, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during a hard landing onto runway 26 (7,005' X 150' dry asphalt) at the Spirit of St. Louis Airport, Chesterfield, Missouri. The 14 CFR Part 91 test flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed Chesterfield, Missouri, at 1150 cdt. The pilot said he was doing high speed taxi tests on the airplane with the intent of a lift off and landing. As the airplane reached a speed where the nose wheel could be lifted off the ground the airplane lifted off. The pilot said N112BD had a constant airspeed profile during the short flight that reached a maximum of 15 feet above the runway. During the flight the pilot said the "...longitudinal handling qualities were found to be undesirable and a proper 'flare' aircraft attitude was not achieved prior to touchdown." When the airplane touchdown occurred, the landing gear failed. The pilot said the center of gravity (C.G.) calculations placed the C.G. at the mid-range point on the C.G. envelope before flight. He said that he and engineering personnel from the company decided that the airplane had an aft C.G. during their analysis of the accident. The pilot also said that the airplane's fuselage had a forward aerodynamic center due to its elliptical shape. According to the pilot both factors created a longitudinal control problem with the amount of up stabilator deflection available. An FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI) examined N112BD and reported that its fuselage was cracked and buckled at the wing root area. The composite fuselage had a circumferential crack from one side of the cockpit opening to the other side. The main landing gear legs were buckled outward from the fuselage centerline and resting against the bottom of N112BD's wing. The nose gear assembly had separated from the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N112BD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N112BD-2012-06-27), registration cancelled 2012-06-27, S/N 001, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bede Aircraft BD12 - Registry model: [Bede James R BEDE BD-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/bede-james-r-bede-bd-12) (registry code 0563035) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Airframe hours: 2 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Bede Aircraft Co. - Registered owner: James R. Bede - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 1995, 2 hours before - Departed: SUS - Airport: SUS, Spirit Of St. Louis, runway 26L, 7,005 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,300 total, 1,200 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 8 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SUS 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.