# NTSB ERA12CA461: Czech Sport Piper Sport, N602PS, Sanford, ME, July 13, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 13, 2012, 15:20 local (19:20 UTC)
- Place: Sanford, ME
- Coordinates: 43.389446, -70.706665 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3894&lon=-70.7067&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 4, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 84353
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA461
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84353/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84353
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA461

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s inadequate landing flare and improper recovery from a 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: [Czech Sport PIPER SPORT, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0600073), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Czech Sport PIPER SPORT, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=0600073), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Czech Sport PIPER SPORT, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=0600073), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Czech Sport PIPER SPORT, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=0600073), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the student pilot, his first two attempts to land resulted in bounced landings and he performed a go-around each time. On the third landing attempt, the airplane approached the runway at a shallower angle, bounced, and nose landing gear struck the ground, which caused it to collapse. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall. The investigation discovered no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

According to the student pilot, his first two attempts to land resulted in bounced landings, and he performed a go-around each time. On the third landing attempt, the airplane approached the runway at a “shallower angle,” bounced, and impacted the nose landing gear which caused it to collapse. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N602PS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N602PS), registered now, S/N P1001006, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CZECH SPORT AIRCRAFT AS PIPER SPORT
- Registry model: [Czech Sport PIPER SPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/czech-sport-piper-sport) (registry code 0600073) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P1001006
- Airframe hours: 811
- Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Beverly Flight Center
- Registered owner: Nordeide Arne
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 25, 2012, 20 hours before
- Departed: KBVY, Beverly, MA
- Destination: KSFM, Sanford, ME
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: KSFM, Sanford Regional Airport, runway 25, 6,300 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 59; injuries: none; student; medical: sport pilot; last flight review July 12, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 48 total, 43 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: KDAW, 11 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 20120713015189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120713015189A), Jul 13, 2012: Czech Sport Aircraft As PIPER SPORT, Sanford, ME, Substantial damage. Pilot's statementon the first leg of solo cross country. Flying out of bvy. Wind was from the west, so I planned on landing on runway 32. I had made my dual…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 31, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84353. 9.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 486 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374369&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373825&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - IA Statement (item 3, .PDF, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374376&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20IA%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record: KDAW Weather Report (item 4, .PDF, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374380&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%3A%20KDAW%20Weather%20Report-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - View of Airplane Wreckage - Courtesy of FAA (item 5, .PDF, 999 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373854&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20View%20of%20Airplane%20Wreckage%20-%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - View of Airplane Firewall Damage (item 6, .PDF, 7.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373852&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20View%20of%20Airplane%20Firewall%20Damage-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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