# NTSB ERA12CA570: Fly Hard Trike Skycycle Sting RAY, N86862, Gulfport, MS, September 21, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 21, 2012, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Gulfport, MS
- Coordinates: 30.404443, -89.068611
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4044&lon=-89.0686&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 13, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85104
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA570
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85104/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85104
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA570

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control after an unexpected wind gust/turbulence encounter during landing.

## Findings

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

- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Fly Hard Trike SKYCYCLE STING RAY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05903JA), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Fly Hard Trike SKYCYCLE STING RAY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05903JA), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Fly Hard Trike SKYCYCLE STING RAY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05903JA), [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: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Fly Hard Trike SKYCYCLE STING RAY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05903JA), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Fly Hard Trike SKYCYCLE STING RAY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05903JA), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the experimental weight-shift control aircraft stated that he was returning to the departure airport after an uneventful 90-minute test flight. During the landing approach, the aircraft encountered a gust of wind, then "violently" pitched up, rolled to the right, nosed over, and impacted the ground. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the wings and nose. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal aircraft operation. The pilot stated that he believed that this was a “freak” accident caused by unanticipated turbulence over the runway at the time of touchdown.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the experimental weight-shift-control aircraft stated that he was returning to the departure airport at the conclusion of an uneventful 90 minute test flight. During the landing approach, the aircraft encountered a gust of wind, then "violently" pitched up, rolled to the right, nosed over, and impacted the ground. Postaccident examination of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the wings and nose. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies of the aircraft that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N86862](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N86862-2013-09-06), registration cancelled 2013-09-06, S/N T10247, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FLY HARD TRIKE INC SKYCYCLE STING RAY
- Registry model: [Fly Hard Trike SKYCYCLE STING RAY](https://openairdocs.org/model/fly-hard-trike-skycycle-sting-ray) (registry code 05903JA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 503 DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-dcdi) (registry code 55566, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Weight-shift
- Serial number: T10247
- Airframe hours: 5
- Engines: ROTAX 503 DCDI 50 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Flight test, Part 91
- Operator: Lindorfer John H
- Registered owner: Lindorfer John H
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, October 3, 2011, 4 hours before
- Departed: GPT, Gulfport, MS
- Destination: GPT, Gulfport, MS
- Airport: GPT, Gulfport/Biloxi International, runway 18, 4,935 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 9, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 842 total, 4 in this make and model, 684 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: GPT

## 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 20120921021729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120921021729A), Sep 21, 2012: Fly Hard Trike Inc SKYCYCLE STING RAY, Gulfport, MS, Substantial damage. The pilot reported that after he was cleared to land on rwy 18 at (kgpt) Gulfport international airport he felt the aircraft violently lifted upward in with he…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 4, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85104. 10.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378273&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statements - Courtesy of Mark Flatgard (Airport Operations Supervisor) (item 2, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378311&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements%20-%20Courtesy%20of%20Mark%20Flatgard%20(Airport%20Operations%20Supervisor)-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377758&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - FAA (item 4, .PDF, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377757&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - Weather (item 5, .PDF, 154 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377755&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Weather-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: Picture of Aircraft at Accident Site - Courtesy of FAA (item 6, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379084&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Picture%20of%20Aircraft%20at%20Accident%20Site%20-%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: Picture of Aircraft at Accident Site - Courtesy of FAA (item 7, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379085&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Picture%20of%20Aircraft%20at%20Accident%20Site%20-%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Photo 3: Picture of Accident Aircraft in Hangar - Courtesy of FAA (item 8, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379086&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Picture%20of%20Accident%20Aircraft%20in%20Hangar%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.

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