# NTSB ERA12CA128: Mitsubishi MU-2B-20, N800BY, Picayune, MS, December 29, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 28, 2011, 19:00 local (Dec 29, 2011, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Picayune, MS - Coordinates: 30.487222, -89.651107 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4872&lon=-89.6511&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: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 26, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82589 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA128 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82589/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82589 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA128 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive rate of descent during the landing flare/touchdown, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-20, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=5780407), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-20, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=5780407), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/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: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-20, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=5780407), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the wind was calm at the time of the accident. The airplane entered the traffic pattern on a left base leg at 120 knots with the landing gear extended and flaps extended to 20 degrees. The pilot turned the airplane onto final approach, and when the runway was assured, extended the flaps to 40 degrees and confirmed the landing gear were down and locked. Upon landing, the airplane suddenly pitched nose down, and the pilot realized there was a discrepancy with the nose landing gear. He applied full thrust reverse, stopped, and secured the airplane on the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the nose landing gear was collapsed, the left main landing gear tire was separated from the wheel, and the wheel assembly was separated from the landing gear. Wrinkles in the fuselage skin near the forward pressure bulkhead were noted on both sides of the airplane. Additionally, the left and right upper and lower wing spars were distorted, and the fuel tanks at the wingtips were dislodged and loose from their mountings, consistent with substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane, but the damage was consistent with a hard landing. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, the wind was calm at the time of the accident. He entered the traffic pattern on a left base leg at 120 knots with the landing gear extended and flaps extended 20 degrees. He turned onto final approach to runway 36, and when the runway was assured, extended the flaps to 40 degrees and confirmed the landing gears were down and locked. Upon landing, the airplane suddenly pitched nose down and he realized there was a discrepancy with the nose landing gear. He applied full thrust reverse, stopped, and secured the airplane on the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed the nose landing gear was collapsed, the left main landing gear tire was separated from the wheel, and the wheel assembly was separated from the landing gear. Wrinkles in the fuselage skin near the forward pressure bulkhead were noted on both sides of the airplane. Additionally, the left and right upper and lower wing spars were distorted, and the fuel tanks at the wingtips were dislodged and loose from their mountings consistent with substantial damage. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that he observed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane before the hard landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N800BY](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N800BY-2013-01-11), registration cancelled 2013-01-11, S/N 221, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MITSUBISHI MU-2B-20 - Registry model: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/mitsubishi-mu-2b-20) (registry code 5780407) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [AiResearch 331SER 705HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-331ser-705hp) (registry code 01506, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 221 - Airframe hours: 5996 - Engines: Honeywell TPE331-1-151A 665 horsepower turbo prop; Honeywell TPE331-1-151A 665 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Northshore Group LLC - Registered owner: Northshore Group LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 2011 - Departed: ASD, Slidell, AL - Destination: MJD, Picayune, MS - Airport: MJD, Picayune Municipal Airport, runway 36, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 21, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 6,749 total, 387 in this make and model, 6,749 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: HSA, 12 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 20111228029239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111228029239A), Dec 28, 2011: Mitsubishi MU-2B-20, Picayune, MS, Substantial damage. During the landing the pilot experienced a hard landing.1. Nose gear collasped.2. Left main tire and hub separated and blew out.3. Left and right upper and… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 31, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82589. 5.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 655 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364004&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361836&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363379&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - NTSB Record of Conversation (item 4, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361838&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 5, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363380&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Digital Photograph Provided by FAA. View Depicting Wrinkles in Left Fuselage Skin Between Fuselage Stations 1080 and 1445. (item 6, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365203&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20FAA.%20View%20Depicting%20Wrinkles%20in%20Left%20Fuselage%20Skin%20Between%20Fuselage%20Stations%201080%20and%201445.-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Digital Photograph Provided by FAA. View Depicting Wrinkles in Right Fuselage Skin Between Fuselage Stations 1080 and 1650. (item 7, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365213&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20FAA.%20View%20Depicting%20Wrinkles%20in%20Right%20Fuselage%20Skin%20Between%20Fuselage%20Stations%201080%20and%201650.-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Digital Photograph Provided by FAA. View Depicting Wrinkles in Right Wing Upper Skin Between Wing Stations 4950 and 5450. (item 8, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365205&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20FAA.%20View%20Depicting%20Wrinkles%20in%20Right%20Wing%20Upper%20Skin%20Between%20Wing%20Stations%204950%20and%205450.-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.