# NTSB ERA13CA092: Liberty Aerospace XL-2, N208AU, Lynchburg, VA, December 11, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 11, 2012, 13:18 local (18:18 UTC)
- Place: Lynchburg, VA
- Coordinates: 37.321945, -79.193054 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3219&lon=-79.1931&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 10, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85834
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA092
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85834/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85834
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA092

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper 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 · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Liberty Aerospace XL-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=5200001), [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Liberty Aerospace XL-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5200001), [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: [Liberty Aerospace XL-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=5200001), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Liberty Aerospace XL-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=5200001), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Liberty Aerospace XL-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=5200001), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot was returning from a solo cross-country flight, and, just before touchdown, she flared the airplane too high above the runway, and the airplane touched down hard. The student pilot applied full power to attempt a go-around; however, the airplane bounced, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded down the runway eventually coming to rest. Postaccident examination revealed a large hole in the cockpit floor, located just aft of the left seat rudder pedals. The student pilot reported no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operations.

## Factual narrative

According to the student pilot, she was returning from a solo cross-country flight. Just prior to touchdown, she flared the airplane too high above the runway and the airplane touched down hard. The student pilot applied full power to attempt a go around; however, the airplane bounced, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane skidded down the runway eventually coming to rest. The student pilot reported no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the aircraft was substantially damaged with a large hole in the cockpit floor, located just aft of the left seat rudder pedals.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N208AU](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N208AU-2015-10-14), registration cancelled 2015-10-14, S/N 0114, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LIBERTY AEROSPACE INCORPORATED XL-2
- Registry model: [Liberty Aerospace XL-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/liberty-aerospace-xl-2) (registry code 5200001) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-240-B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-240-b) (registry code 17177, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0114
- Airframe hours: 1417
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-240-B 125 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Averett University Of Danville Va
- Registered owner: Averett University Of Danville Va
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 14, 2012, 36 hours before
- Departed: DAN, Danville, VA
- Destination: LYH, Lynchburg, VA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: LYH, Lynchburg Regional Airport, runway 04, 7,100 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 83 total, 83 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LYH

## 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 20121211026699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121211026699A), Dec 11, 2012: Liberty Aerospace Incorporated XL-2, Lynchburg, VA, Substantial damage. The student pilot was on a solo cross country flight. The student pilot lost control on landing. The aircraft struck hard on the nose wheel and the propeller…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 1, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85834. 7.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384713&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - Student Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384765&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Student%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - FAA (item 3, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384387&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - Weather (item 4, .PDF, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384532&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Weather-Master.PDF
- Photograph # 1: Airplane Parked Outside of Hangar (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384395&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%201%3A%20Airplane%20Parked%20Outside%20of%20Hangar%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photograph # 2: Airplane Cockpit (Photos Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384399&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%202%3A%20Airplane%20Cockpit%20(Photos%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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