ERA10CA145

NTSB accident investigation · Clopton Aero Aerocomp Compair 7SL · Merritt Island, FL · February 8, 2010

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
February 8, 2010, 11:50 local (16:50 UTC)
Place
Merritt Island, FL
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N286JLClopton Aero Aerocomp Compair 7SL
Defining event
Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 17, 2010
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA/FSDO
FAA report
20100208028229A
Case key
75379

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

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane 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 parametersAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedClopton Aero AEROCOMP COMPAIR 7SL: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,269 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

According to the pilot of the experimental, amateur-built, turboprop airplane, the airplane was configured for landing while on the downwind and base legs for runway 29. During the final approach segment, the airplane was aligned with the runway centerline and airspeed and power were stabilized. At the approach end of the runway, the airplane suddenly dropped, resulting in a hard bounce. Corrections were made and on the second bounce, power was added for a go-around procedure. The engine did not respond to the thrust lever input. The continued bouncing resulted in a loss of directional control and the airplane exited the runway to the left. According to the owner/pilot-rated-passenger, the pilot turned downwind and at base leg, was exceeding the recommended approach speed by 20 knots. Upon turn to final they were approaching the runway “hot.” Airspeed was 80 plus knots and the stall speed for the airplane was 68 to 70 knots. The airplane bounced hard and a go-around was attempted, but was unsuccessful because the turbine spooling was too slow. The airplane exited the runway to the center median with another hard bounce, then with the ensuing crash. The pilot reported that she had accumulated a total time of 15,000 hours; of which, 3.5 hours were in the accident airplane.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot of the experimental, amateur-built, turboprop airplane, the airplane was configured for landing while on the downwind and base legs for runway 29. During the final approach segment, the airplane was aligned with the runway centerline and airspeed and power were stabilized. At the approach end of the runway, the airplane suddenly dropped, resulting in a hard bounce. Corrections were made and on the second bounce, power was added for a go-around procedure. The engine did not respond to the thrust lever input. The continued bouncing resulted in a loss of directional control and the airplane exited the runway to the left. According to the owner/pilot-rated-passenger, the pilot turned downwind and at base leg, was exceeding the recommended approach speed by 20 knots. Upon turn to final they were approaching the runway “hot.” Airspeed was 80 plus knots and the stall speed for the airplane was 68 to 70 knots. The airplane bounced hard and a go-around was attempted, but was unsuccessful because the turbine spooling was too slow. The airplane exited the runway to the center median with another hard bounce, then with the ensuing crash. The pilot reported on that she had accumulated a total time of 15,000 hours; of which, 3.5 hours were in the accident airplane.

Aircraft

Registration
N286JL
Reported as
Clopton Aero Aerocomp Compair 7SL
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
057222
Airframe hours
100
Engine
Walter 601D, 724 horsepower, turbo prop
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Condition · May 31, 2009 · 7 hours before
Departed
TLH · Tallalhassee, FL
Destination
COI · Merritt Island, FL
Airport
COI · Merritt Island Airport, runway 29, 3,601 × 75 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 · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
69
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
May 4, 2008
Seat
Left
Flight hours
15,000 total · 4 in this make and model · 10,000 as pilot in command · 75 in the last 90 days · 45 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Role
Other flight crew
Age
60
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
May 1, 2008
Seat
Right
Flight hours
188 total · 49 in this make and model · 0 in the last 90 days · 0 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
340° at 5 knots
Visibility
7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
20,000 ft overcast
Temperature
59 °F, dew point 45 °F
Altimeter
30.09 inHg
Observed at
COF, 3 nm away

Docket · 6

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 8, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.8 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

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

Other investigations on N286JL · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.