# NTSB DEN08LA024: Iniziative Industriali Italian Sky Aero 600 Sport, N435SA, Stevensville, MD, August 24, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 24, 2007, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Stevensville, MD - Coordinates: 38.976387, -76.329719 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9764&lon=-76.3297&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 67048 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67048/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA024 ## Probable cause The pilot's premature flare that resulted in a hard landing, fracturing the left main landing gear strut that subsequently collapsed. A contributing factor was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the pilot. ## Analysis The instructor was giving the private pilot an airplane checkout. He said the pilot "flared high and touched down hard." The instructor took control of the airplane, made a go-around, and landed. On touchdown, the airplane "tended to veer left" and it appeared the left main landing gear was "slightly distorted." They flew back to the airport where the flight originated. The instructor made the landing and applied right brake as necessary to maintain runway centerline. There was a loud bang and the left main landing gear failed. The airplane swerved off the runway. Post-accident inspection revealed the left landing gear strut was fractured and bent aft. The composite fuselage was buckled, and the landing gear box was torn open. ## Factual narrative On August 24, 2007, approximately 1400 eastern daylight time, an Iniziative Industriali Italian Sky Arrow 600 Sport, N435SA, piloted by a private pilot under the supervision of a commercial certificated flight instructor, was substantially damaged when the pilot made a hard landing at Cambridge Airport (CGE), Cambridge, Maryland. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane and flew back to Bat Bridge Airport (W29), Stevensville, Maryland. Upon landing, the airplane veered off the runway. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The private pilot and flight instructor were not injured. The flight originated at W29 approximately 1330. This accident was not reported to NTSB until November 5, 2007, because FAA had not assessed aircraft damage. The instructor was giving the private pilot an airplane checkout. In his accident report, the instructor said the pilot "flared high and touched down hard" at CGE. The instructor took control of the airplane, made a go-around, and landed. On touchdown, the airplane "tended to veer left" and it appeared the left main landing gear was "slightly distorted." They flew back to W29. The instructor made the landing and applied right brake as necessary to maintain runway centerline. There was a loud bang and the left main landing gear failed. The airplane swerved off the runway. Post-accident inspection revealed the left landing gear strut was fractured and bent aft. The composite fuselage was buckled, and the landing gear box was torn open. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - premature, pilot in command (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - landing gear,main gear strut - fractured - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command(cfi) - landing gear,main gear strut - failure,total (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N435SA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N435SA-2018-01-04), registration cancelled 2018-01-04, S/N LSA005, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Iniziative Industriali Italian Sky Aero 600 Sport - Registry model: [Iniziative Industriali Italian SKY ARROW 600 SPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/iniziative-industriali-italian-sky-arrow-600-sport) (registry code 060003R) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: LSA005 - Airframe hours: 178 - Engines: Rotax 912 VLS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: CSP Leasing, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 1, 2007 - Departed: W29, Stevensville, MD - Destination: W29, Stevensville, MD - Airport: W29, Bay Bridge, runway 29, 2,903 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 68; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; flight hours: 718 total, 49 in this make and model, 612 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 53; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2006; seat: front; flight hours: 87 total, 2 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20070824018729I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070824018729I), Aug 24, 2007: Inizi 600SPORT, Stevensville, MD, Substantial damage. (-23) Instructor stated he was checking out [privacy data omitted] in the aircraft. They made a hard landing at the cambridge airport (cge). The instructor… ## Other investigations on N435SA (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 ERA11CA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA178), Mar 2, 2011: Iniziative Industriali Italian SKY Arrow 600 Sport (N435SA), Ridgely, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to compensate for crosswind conditions and loss of directional control during landing, resulting in a runway excursion and nose over. 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.