# NTSB ERA11CA333: Cessna 172K, N46643, Bar Harbor, ME, April 6, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 6, 2011, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Bar Harbor, ME - Coordinates: 44.440277, -68.355834 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4403&lon=-68.3558&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80727 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA333 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80727/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80727 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA333 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate landing flare while landing with a gusting wind, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was for his biennial flight review. During the approach to landing he used 20 degrees of flaps and side-slipped the airplane. However, while beginning the landing flare the airplane encountered a gust of wind and impacted the runway with all three landing gear. The pilot was able to taxi the airplane to the hangar, where he inspected the landing gear and noticed damage to the nose gear tire. According to the certified flight instructor the airplane landed relatively flat. Subsequent inspections revealed substantial damage to the lower left portion of the firewall. The wind about the time of the accident was from 300 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 19 knots, and was variable in direction from 270 degrees to 340 degrees. Both pilots reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was for his biennial flight review (BFR). During the approach to landing he utilized 20 degrees of flaps and side-slipped the airplane. However, while beginning the landing flare the airplane encountered a gust of wind and impacted the runway with all three landing gear. The pilot was able to taxi the airplane to the hangar, where he inspected the landing gear and noticed damage to the nose gear tire. According to the certificated flight instructor (CFI) the airplane landed "relatively flat." Subsequent inspections revealed substantial damage to the lower left portion of the firewall. The wind about the time of the accident was from 300 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 19 knots, and was variable in direction from 270 degrees to 340 degrees. Both pilots reported that there was no preimpact mechanical malfunction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46643](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N46643), registered now, S/N 17257406, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17257406 - Airframe hours: 3535 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Porcupine Islands Flyers - Registered owner: Porcupine Islands Flyers - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 2010 - Departed: EPM, Eastport, ME - Destination: BHB, Bar Harbor, ME - Airport: BHB, Hancock County - Bar Harbor, runway 35, 3,253 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 9, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,055 total, 900 in this make and model, 961 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 62; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 22, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 4,100 total, 130 in this make and model, 3,900 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 10 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.71 inHg - Observed at: BHB ## 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 20110406009659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110406009659A), Apr 6, 2011: Cessna 172K, Trenton, ME, Substantial damage. First pilot was current and acting as PIC. Second pilot (CFI) was administering a flight review as required by FAR part 61.56 to first pilot. Upon landing… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80727. 683 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 453 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349356&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - CFI (item 2, .PDF, 127 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349459&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20CFI-Redacted.PDF - Bar Harbor Weather (item 3, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349357&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Bar%20Harbor%20Weather-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. --- 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.