# NTSB CHI98LA009: Brown AIR Shark III, N42AE, Green Bay, WI, October 6, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 6, 1997, 14:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Green Bay, WI - Coordinates: 44.589168, -88.119049 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5892&lon=-88.1190&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10761 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10761/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA009 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing, subsequent failure of the left main landing gear, and his inability to maintain directional control. Factors related to the accident were: the runway light, and soft terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,main gear - overload - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - runway light (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis In a telephone conversation, the pilot said that he had made about 13 landings with his homebuilt airplane prior to the accident flight. He said that during these landings, he kept the engine producing power throughout the flare/touchdown sequence. During the landing on the accident flight, he decided to 'slow it down' and 'chop the power at around ten feet.' After the reduction of power, the airplane pitched up and collided with the runway in a nose high attitude. In his written statement, the pilot said that he 'reduced the power too much, and [the] plane hit too hard.' The left main gear diagonal support structure dislodged, partially collapsing the left main gear. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and collided with a runway light, damaging the left wing. The airplane then turned sideways, causing the main gear to sink into a soft spot in the grass and separate from the airframe. ## Factual narrative On October 6, 1997, a Brown Air Shark III, N42AE, was substantially damaged when the airplane collided with a runway light following a hard landing at Austin Straubel International Airport, Green Bay, Wisconsin. The pilot reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was on file. The solo flight departed Green Bay at 1400 cdt for a local flight. In a telephone conversation, the pilot said that he had made approximately 13 landings with his homebuilt amphibian airplane prior to the accident flight. He said that during these landings, he kept the engine producing power throughout the flare/touchdown sequence. During the landing on the accident flight, he said that he decided to "slow it down" and "chop the power at around ten feet." After the reduction of power, the airplane pitched up and collided with the runway in a nose high attitude. In his written statement, the pilot said that he "reduced the power too much, and [the] plane hit too hard." The left main gear diagonal support structure dislodged, partially collapsing the left main gear. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and collided with a runway light, damaging the left wing. The airplane then turned sideways, causing the main gear to sink into a soft spot in the grass, and separate from the airframe. Post-accident inspection revealed that the main landing gear had sheared off. There was substantial damage to the left wing including leading edge damage and a puncture to the underside. There was a gash, approximately 3 inches wide and 1/2 inch deep, through the aft fuselage fiberglass skin, along the path of the propeller arc. The engine is mounted above the main fuselage, and aft of the cockpit. It is attached to the airframe on flexible mounts to allow for flex of the engine. The clearance between the outermost tip of the propeller blade and the fuselage skin is approximately 1/2 inch. The homebuilt airplane received its most recent inspection on May 9, 1997, when the airworthiness certificate was issued. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N42AE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42AE-2013-08-05), registration cancelled 2013-08-05, S/N CB-1, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BROWN AIR SHARK III (AIR SHARK) - Registry model: [Brown Charles L SR AIR SHARK II](https://openairdocs.org/model/brown-charles-l-sr-air-shark-ii) (registry code 05604DQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CB-1 - Airframe hours: 27 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert L. Graham - Registered owner: Equishare Capital Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, May 9, 1997, 27 hours before - Departed: GRB - Destination: GRB - Airport: GRB, Austin Straubel Intl, runway 18, 8,200 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 124 total, 5 in this make and model, 56 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GRB ## 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 19971006030429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971006030429A), Oct 6, 1997: Amtr AIRSHARKIII, Green Bay, WI, Substantial damage. Collided with runway laning. (.4)the pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing, subsequent failure of the left main landing gear, and his… 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.