# NTSB ERA12CA437: Cessna TR182, N5527S, Meridianville, AL, June 22, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 22, 2012, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Meridianville, AL
- Coordinates: 34.861389, -86.557502 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8614&lon=-86.5575&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 October 4, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 84259
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA437
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84259/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84259
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA437

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna TR182, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072735), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna TR182, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072735), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 TR182, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072735), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was landing to the north after an uneventful flight and approach. Upon landing, the airplane bounced several times. During the final bounce, the airplane impacted hard on the runway, damaging the nose gear and collapsing the nose gear tire. The pilot reported that during the accident sequence the propeller did not strike the runway and the engine continued to run. Subsequent examination of the airplane revealed a buckled engine firewall. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The certificated private pilot reported that he was landing to the north after an uneventful flight and approach. Upon landing, the airplane "bounced several times." During the final bounce, the airplane impacted hard on the runway, damaging the nose gear and collapsing the nose gear tire. The pilot reported that during the accident sequence, the propeller did not strike the runway and the engine continued to run. Subsequent examination of the airplane revealed a buckled engine firewall. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5527S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5527S), registered now, S/N R18201595, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA TR182
- Registry model: [Cessna TR182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tr182) (registry code 2072735) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R18201595
- Airframe hours: 3630
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Kuehlthau Robert L
- Registered owner: Kuehlthau Robert L
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 6, 2011
- Departed: JQF, Concord, NC
- Destination: MDQ, Meridianville, AL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: MDQ, Madison County Executive, runway 36, 5,005 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 2, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 348 total, 134 in this make and model, 310 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: HSV, 17 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 20120622014409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120622014409A), Jun 22, 2012: Cessna TR182, Madison, AL, Substantial damage. This was a normal landing on runway 36 at mdq. On landing the aircraft bounced several times. On the last bounce the aircraft impacted hard damaging the nose…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 31, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84259. 2.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374243&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1: Left Hand Firewall Buckling with Buckled Stiffener Assembly (FAA Digital Photo) (item 2, .PDF, 312 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374245&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Left%20Hand%20Firewall%20Buckling%20with%20Buckled%20Stiffener%20Assembly%20(FAA%20Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: Right Hand Firewall Buckling with Buckled Stiffener Assembly (FAA Digital Photo) (item 3, .PDF, 634 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374249&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Right%20Hand%20Firewall%20Buckling%20with%20Buckled%20Stiffener%20Assembly%20(FAA%20Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3: Tail Bulkhead Damage (FAA Digital Photo) (item 4, .PDF, 752 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374251&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Tail%20Bulkhead%20Damage%20(FAA%20Digital%20Photo)-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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