# NTSB ERA14CA134: American Legend AL3, N156WB, Gulf Shores, AL, February 25, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 25, 2014, 09:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Gulf Shores, AL - Coordinates: 30.269203, -87.700897 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2692&lon=-87.7009&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 5, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 88843 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88843/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88843 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA134 ## Probable cause The student pilot's incorrect rudder input, which resulted in a ground loop and collision with a runway sign. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, he and the student pilot flew to a local airport to practice touch and go landings and takeoffs. The student pilot flew the traffic pattern uneventfully, and during the final approach to land, the airspeed was excessive. The airplane touched down, and bounced back into the air; the student pilot regained control of the airplane, and touched down in the proper landing attitude. During the landing roll the airplane began to drift to the right, and the flight instructor called out for left rudder input while engaging the left rudder pedal. According to the student pilot, he initiated more right rudder pedal force and caused the airplane to ground loop. The airplane struck a runway sign and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Both pilots reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the flight instructor, he and the student pilot flew to a local airport to practice touch and go landings and takeoffs. The student pilot flew the traffic pattern uneventfully, and during the final approach to land, the airspeed was excessive. The airplane touched down, and bounced back into the air; the student pilot regained control of the airplane, and touched down in the proper landing attitude. During the landing roll the airplane began to drift to the right, and the flight instructor called out for left rudder input while engaging the left rudder pedal. According to the student pilot, he initiated more right rudder pedal force and caused the airplane to ground loop. The airplane struck a runway sign and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Both pilots reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N156WB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N156WB-2018-11-20), registration cancelled 2018-11-20, S/N AL-1173, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN LEGEND AIRCRAFT CO AL3 - Registry model: [American Legend AL3](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-legend-al3) (registry code 060002K) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-200-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200-d) (registry code 17409, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AL-1173 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 212 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200-D 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Mhoc LLC - Registered owner: Mhoc LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2014 - Departed: 82J, Pensacola, FL - Destination: JKA, Gulf Shores, AL - Airport: JKA, Gulf Shores, runway 09, 6,962 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 40; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, military; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 6, 2013; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,300 total, 25 in this make and model, 3,100 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 39; injuries: none; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6 total, 6 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 16,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: JKA ## 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 20140225002549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140225002549A), Feb 25, 2014: American Legend Aircraft Co AL3, Gulf Shores, AL, Substantial damage. On February 25, 2014, the pilot of N156WB was instructing a student while landing at Jack Edwards Airport in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Upon touchdown the aircraft… ## Other investigations on N156WB (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 ERA16LA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA199), May 31, 2016: American Legend AL3 (N156WB), Elberta, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the engine ran normally during a postaccident engine test run with no anomalies noted. ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 24, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88843. 14.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 574 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411504&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Flight Instructor Statement (item 2, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411505&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Student Pilot Statement (item 3, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411506&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Forward view of airplane from right side (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411507&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Forward%20view%20of%20airplane%20from%20right%20side%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2. View of left side of empennage showing substantial damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411508&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20View%20of%20left%20side%20of%20empennage%20showing%20substantial%20damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3. View of spar damage inside empennage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411509&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20View%20of%20spar%20damage%20inside%20empennage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 4. Rear top view of empennage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411510&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20Rear%20top%20view%20of%20empennage%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. --- 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.