# NTSB ERA13CA399: Breezer 912ULS2, N5625Y, Lakeland, FL, August 31, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 31, 2013, 09:07 local (13:07 UTC)
- Place: Lakeland, FL
- Coordinates: 27.993733, -82.014185 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9937&lon=-82.0142&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 November 19, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- NTSB case key (mKey): 87983
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA399
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87983/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87983
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA399

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear.

## 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: [Breezer BREEZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060004U), [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 · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Breezer BREEZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=060004U), [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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Breezer BREEZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=060004U), [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Breezer BREEZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=060004U), [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: [Breezer BREEZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=060004U), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot of the special light sport airplane reported that he was practicing touch-and-go landings and had completed six, when the air traffic controller requested that he perform a short approach. The student pilot was aligned with the arrival runway numbers when he turned base leg. According to the student pilot, he forced the airplane down and made a hard landing. The airplane then bounced at least once and when it struck the ground the final time, the nose gear collapsed. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the firewall and engine mounts. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot of the special light sport airplane reported that he was practicing touch-and-go landings and had completed six, when the air traffic controller requested that he perform a short approach. The student pilot was aligned with the arrival runway numbers when he turned base leg. According to the student pilot, he forced the airplane down and made a hard landing. The airplane then bounced at least once and when it struck the ground the final time, the nose gear collapsed. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the firewall and engine mounts. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5625Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5625Y), registered now, S/N 004LSA, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BREEZER AIRCRAFT 912ULS2
- Registry model: [Breezer BREEZER](https://openairdocs.org/model/breezer-breezer) (registry code 060004U) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912S series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912s-series) (registry code 55570, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 004LSA
- Year built: 2007
- Airframe hours: 310
- Engines: ROTAX 912S 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 21, 2013, 10 hours before
- Departed: LAL, Lakeland, FL
- Destination: LAL, Lakeland, FL
- Airport: LAL, Lakeland Linder Rgnl, runway 27, 8,499 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; student; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 58 total, 58 in this make and model, 32 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: LAL

## 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 20130831016559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130831016559A), Aug 31, 2013: Breezer Aircraft BREEZER, Lakeland, FL, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] (P.I.c.) was performing pattern work/touch and go's to rwy 27. He had a total of 3.1 hrs. Solo p.I.c. time including 1.1 hrs. Of touch…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87983. 7.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401900&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Lakeland Linder Regional Airport Aircraft Accident/Incident Report (item 2, .PDF, 391 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401889&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Lakeland%20Linder%20Regional%20Airport%20Aircraft%20Accident%2FIncident%20Report-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum for Record (FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401905&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20(FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photograph #1: View of nose landing gear (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400968&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%231%3A%20View%20of%20nose%20landing%20gear%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photograph #2: View of engine mount damage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400969&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%232%3A%20View%20of%20engine%20mount%20damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photograph #3: View of firewall damage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400970&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%233%3A%20View%20of%20firewall%20damage%20(Courtesy%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.