# NTSB ERA10CA196: Diamond DA20, N552MA, Chesapeake, VA, March 27, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 27, 2010, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Chesapeake, VA
- Coordinates: 36.659442, -76.318885
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6594&lon=-76.3189&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75613
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA196
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75613/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75613
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA196

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that the accident flight was his second flight in the airplane. While landing on runway 5, the airplane "touched down and then ballooned up." The pilot applied full power to execute a go-around, but the airplane "sank" and contacted the ground. The airplane's nose landing gear collapsed and the engine firewall sustained substantial damage. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane after the accident reported no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that the accident flight was his second flight in the airplane. During landing on runway 5, the airplane "touched down and then ballooned up." The pilot applied full power to execute a go-around, but the airplane "sank" and contacted the ground. The airplane's nose landing gear collapsed, and the engine firewall sustained substantial damage. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector, who examined the airplane after the accident, reported no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. The reported weather at the accident airport, about the time of the accident, included winds from 070 degrees at 9 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N552MA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N552MA), registered now, S/N C0248, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DIAMOND DA20 (C1)
- Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da20-c1) (registry code 2990001) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-240 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-240-series) (registry code 17063, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: C0248
- Airframe hours: 1693
- Engines: Continental IO-240-B 125 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Tidewater Flight Center
- Registered owner: OMCR Aviation, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 16, 2010
- Departed: CPK, Chesapeake, VA
- Destination: CPK, Chesapeake, VA
- Airport: CPK, Chesapeake Regional, runway 05, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 18, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 97 total, 2 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observed at: CPK

## 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 20100327030059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100327030059A), Mar 27, 2010: Diamond Air DA 20-C1, Chesapeake, VA, Substantial damage. The low time pilot attempted to land the aircraft. In the landing flair, the aircraft touched down on the runway with all three wheels simultaneously. This…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 5, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75613. 978 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 847 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328285&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328286&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - FAA (item 3, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328287&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF

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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