# NTSB ERA12CA520: Fleet Fleet 16B, N343SF, Bayport, NY, August 18, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 18, 2012, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Bayport, NY - Coordinates: 40.756111, -73.05194 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7561&lon=-73.0519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 14, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84753 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA520 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84753/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84753 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA520 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard 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: [Fleet FLEET 16B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=3480502), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Fleet FLEET 16B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=3480502), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Fleet FLEET 16B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=3480502), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Fleet FLEET 16B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=3480502), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Fleet FLEET 16B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=3480502), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Fleet FLEET 16B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=3480502), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he returned to the departure airport after a brief local flight and entered the traffic pattern. While on final approach to the runway, he initiated a slip to the left to descend and increase his visibility of the runway. The pilot stated that during previous flights in the tailwheel-equipped biplane, after he exited the slip just before touchdown, the airplane would "float" down the runway in ground effect. However, when he exited the slip during the accident flight, the rate of descent remained constant, and the airplane's contact with the runway was "fairly severe." The landing gear subsequently collapsed, and the airplane departed the right side of the runway and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the right upper wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and that the accident could have been prevented by a "quicker reaction" and "increasing [engine] power to arrest descent rate." ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that following a brief local flight, he returned to the departure airport and entered the traffic pattern. While on final approach to the runway, he initiated a slip to the left in order to descend and increase the visibility of the runway. The pilot stated that during previous flights in the tailwheel-equipped biplane, after exiting the slip just prior to touchdown, the airplane's airspeed would increase, and it would "float" down the runway; however, upon exiting the slip during the accident flight the rate of descent remained constant, and the airplane's contact with the runway was "fairly severe." The landing gear subsequently collapsed, and the airplane departed the right side of the runway and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the right upper wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and that the accident could have been prevented by a "quicker reaction" and "increasing [engine] power to arrest descent rate." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N343SF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N343SF), registered now, S/N 343, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FLEET FLEET 16B - Registry model: [Fleet FLEET 16B](https://openairdocs.org/model/fleet-fleet-16b) (registry code 3480502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Kinner R5 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/kinner-r5-series) (registry code 37504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 343 - Airframe hours: 1635 - Engines: KINNER R5 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Martin Stephen S - Registered owner: Martin Stephen S - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 4, 2012, 1 hours before - Departed: 23N, Bayport, NY - Destination: 23N, Bayport, NY - Airport: 23N, Bayport Aerodrome, runway 36, 2,740 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 10, 2012; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,460 total, 377 in this make and model, 1,393 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: ISP, 3 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 20120818016509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120818016509A), Aug 18, 2012: Fleet FLEET 16B, Bayport, NY, Substantial damage. One August 18, 2012 at approximately 2100 z (1700 local), the landing gear of N343SF failed on touchdown, causing the aircraft to slide to a stop and flip over… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 27, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84753. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 851 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377167&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376413&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA (item 3, .PDF, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376414&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Weather (item 4, .PDF, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376415&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Weather-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Photo of damage to right wing - Courtesy of FAA (item 5, .PDF, 367 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376889&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Photo%20of%20damage%20to%20right%20wing%20-%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Photo of damage to landing gear leg bracing - Courtesy of FAA (item 6, .PDF, 404 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376891&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Photo%20of%20damage%20to%20landing%20gear%20leg%20bracing%20-%20Courtesy%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. --- 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.