# NTSB ERA13CA047: Daniels Alan L Kitfox Series 7, N555HT, Plymouth, MA, October 18, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 18, 2012, 11:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place: Plymouth, MA
- Coordinates: 41.908889, -70.728889 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9089&lon=-70.7289&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 13, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85509
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA047
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85509/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85509
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA047

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare and subsequent inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Daniels Alan L KITFOX SERIES 7, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056152Z), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Daniels Alan L KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=056152Z), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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); cases with it: [Daniels Alan L KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=056152Z), [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) (defining event); cases with it: [Daniels Alan L KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=056152Z), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Daniels Alan L KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056152Z), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the final approach he increased the airplane’s airspeed from 65 to 70 mph to compensate for light windshear. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced twice, and the pilot increased engine power slightly to allow the airplane to settle on the main landing gear. After it settled, the nose landing gear collapsed, substantially damaging the firewall. The airplane came to rest upright on the runway. The pilot surmised that the second bounce must have separated the nose landing gear. A witness to the accident, who was a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, stated that the nose landing gear touched down first, followed by bounces with two or three more nosegear touchdowns, before the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest. The recorded wind at the airport about the time of the accident indicated a left crosswind at 8 knots.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during final approach, he increased airspeed from 65 to 70 mph to compensate for light windshear. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced twice and he increased engine power slightly to allow the airplane to settle on the main landing gear. After it settled, the nosewheel collapsed substantially damaging the firewall. The airplane then came to rest upright on the runway. The pilot surmised that the second bounce must have separated the nosewheel. A witness to the accident, who was also a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, stated that the nosegear touched down first, followed by bounces with two or three more nosegear touchdowns, before the nosewheel collapsed and the airplane came to rest. The recorded wind at the airport about the time of the accident was a left crosswind at 8 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N555HT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N555HT-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N S60111-076 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DANIELS ALAN L KITFOX SERIES 7
- Registry model: [Daniels Alan L KITFOX SERIES 7](https://openairdocs.org/model/daniels-alan-l-kitfox-series-7) (registry code 056152Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: S60111-076
- Airframe hours: 790
- Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Shannon Kevin J
- Registered owner: Shannon Kevin J
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, September 26, 2012, 7 hours before
- Departed: PYM, Plymouth, MA
- Destination: PYM, Plymouth, MA
- Airport: PYM, Plymouth Municipal Airport, runway 24, 4,350 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; flight hours: 265 total, 6 in this make and model, 265 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: PYM

## 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 20121018023379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121018023379A), Oct 18, 2012: Daniels Alan L KITFOX SERIES 7, Plymouth, MA, Substantial damage. On October 18, 2012, N555HT a Kitfox series 7 aircraft originated a 14 CFR part 91 flight from Plymouth, MA (kpym). The flight was being piloted by [privacy…

## Other investigations on N555HT (1)

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.

- [NTSB GAA18CA423](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA423), Jul 15, 2018: Daniels Alan L Kitfox Series 7 (N555HT), Lowville, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper airspeed during the approach to land, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 4, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85509. 1.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 799 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382410&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 219 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382411&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Report (item 3, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382412&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF
- Photograph # 1: Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 278 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382413&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%201%3A%20%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photograph # 2: Firewall (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 240 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382415&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%202%3A%20%20Firewall%20(Photo%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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