# NTSB ERA10CA495: Skykits Savannah, N63XT, Springville, TN, September 20, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 20, 2010, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Springville, TN
- Coordinates: 36.333332, -88.150001 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3333&lon=-88.1500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 21, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 77368
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA495
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77368/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77368
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA495

## Probable cause

Collision with an unknown object during landing.

## Findings

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

- [Nacelles/pylons structure: attach fittings (nac/pylon)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035415): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Skykits SAVANNAH VG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035415/cases.md?model=059030X), [All aircraft, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035415/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Skykits SAVANNAH VG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=059030X), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Skykits SAVANNAH VG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=059030X), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Post-impact: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Skykits SAVANNAH VG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=059030X), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The purpose of the flight was for the flight instructor to give instruction to the pilot and endorse him for a light sport aircraft sea rating. The flight instructor reported that during the initial landing on a lake, as the water line moved about three-quarters of the way up the floats, the airplane suddenly pitched over and became inverted. The pilot receiving instruction believed the airplane struck an object during landing. A post-accident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right float sustained substantial damage consistent with contact with an object and that no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies were found. The object struck by the seaplane could not be identified.

## Factual narrative

According to the flight instructor, the amphibious airplane departed Paris Henry County airport en route to a portion of Kentucky Lake called “Big Sandy." The flight instructor was giving dual instruction to endorse the pilot for a light sport aircraft sea rating. The flight instructor reported that during the initial landing on the lake, as the water line moved about three-quarters of the way up the floats, the airplane suddenly pitched over. The airplane became inverted with the floats on the surface. The two pilots exited the airplane with no injuries and held on the floats until help arrived. The pilot receiving instruction believed the airplane struck an object during landing. A post-accident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right float sustained substantial damage consistent with contact with an object and that no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies were found. The object struck by the seaplane could not be identified.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63XT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63XT-2012-05-16), registration cancelled 2012-05-16, S/N 06-11-51-551 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Skykits Corporation Savannah (VG)
- Registry model: [Skykits SAVANNAH VG](https://openairdocs.org/model/skykits-savannah-vg) (registry code 060007M) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 06-11-51-551
- Airframe hours: 1
- Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Skykits Corp
- Registered owner: Skykits Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Departed: PHT, Henry County, TN
- Destination: N/A, Springville, TN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 67; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 25, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 9,025 total, 5 in this make and model, 8,925 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private, foreign; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 2, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 685 total, 600 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: CKV, 38 nm away

## 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 20100920047729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100920047729A), Sep 20, 2010: Skykits Cor SAVANNAH VG, Paris, TN, Substantial damage. Pilots stated they departed Henry County Airport (pht) in Paris, TN and proceeded to an area on Kentucky lake known as "big sandy" to conduct test flights and…

## Docket (11 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 3, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77368. 2.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 360 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337190&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 374 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337767&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- CFI Statement (item 3, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337195&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CFI%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337191&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- Statement from pilot receiving instruction (item 5, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337372&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20from%20pilot%20receiving%20instruction-Master.PDF
- Second statement from pilot receiving instruction (item 6, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337709&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Second%20statement%20from%20pilot%20receiving%20instruction-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record-Third Statement from pilot receiving instruction (item 7, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339083&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Third%20Statement%20from%20pilot%20receiving%20instruction-Master.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statement (item 8, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337711&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Memo of Record - FAA Inspector (item 9, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337960&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF
- Photo-Damage to Float picture 2 (Courtesy of FAA) (item 10, .PDF, 833 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337194&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Damage%20to%20Float%20picture%202%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo-Damage to Float (Courtesy of FAA) (item 11, .PDF, 641 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337193&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Damage%20to%20Float%20(Courtesy%20of%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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