# NTSB ERA14CA400: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 20 C1, N497PA, Stow, MA, August 9, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 9, 2014, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Stow, MA - Coordinates: 42.460556, -71.517776 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4606&lon=-71.5178&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 12, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 89924 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA400 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89924/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89924 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA400 ## Probable cause The flight instructor/pilot's failure to recover from a bounced landing, which resulted in a hard landing and the subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's lack of total experience in the make and model of the accident airplane. ## 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 · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2990001), [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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/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: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2990001), [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: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor/pilot was conducting an introductory flight for the passenger and was landing on a 2,770-foot-long, asphalt runway. Upon landing, the airplane began to bounce. After the third touchdown, the nose gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage. The airplane's second touchdown was described as "rough" by the pilot, and "much more forceful than the initial touchdown" by the passenger. The pilot further stated that he considered aborting the landing after the first bounce, but elected to continue the landing attempt. Postaccident examination of the airplane, which included a metallurgical examination of nose landing gear assembly, did not reveal any preaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported about 440 hours of total flight experience, which included about 8 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane, of which, 1.2 hours were accumulated during the previous 90 days. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor/pilot was conducting an introductory flight for the passenger and was landing on a 2,770-foot-long, asphalt runway. Upon landing, the airplane began to bounce. After the third touchdown, the nose gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage. The airplane's second touchdown was described as "rough" by the pilot, and "much more forceful than the initial touchdown" by the passenger. The pilot further stated that he considered aborting the landing after the first bounce, but elected to continue the landing attempt. Postaccident examination of the airplane, which included a metallurgical examination of nose landing gear assembly, did not reveal any preaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported about 440 hours of total flight experience, which included about 8 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane, of which, 1.2 hours were accumulated during the previous 90 days. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N497PA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N497PA-2015-04-10), registration cancelled 2015-04-10, S/N C0297, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA 20 C1 - Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da20-c1) (registry code 2990001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-240 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-240-series) (registry code 17063, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C0297 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 4620 - Engines: Continental Motors IO-240-B 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Noble Airventures LLC - Registered owner: Noble Airventures LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 28, 2014, 27 hours before - Departed: 6B6, Stow, MA - Destination: 6B6, Stow, MA - Airport: 6B6, Minute Man Air Field, runway 03, 2,770 × 48 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 53; injuries: none; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 440 total, 8 in this make and model, 340 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: BED, 10 nm away ## 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 20140809014489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140809014489A), Aug 9, 2014: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 20-C1, Stow, MA, Substantial damage. Pilot and single pax were on a introductory flight. Upon landing the aircraft bounced nose up approx six feet, then bounced again on next touchdown. This… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 17, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89924. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 903 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420128&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Passenger and Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 334 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420129&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20and%20Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Materials Laboratory Factual Report (item 3, .PDF, 3 photos, 474 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420130&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Post-Accident of Airplane (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420131&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Post-Accident%20of%20Airplane%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Cabin Interior (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420132&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Cabin%20Interior%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.