# NTSB ERA15CA267: Brandt Leroy E Challenger II, N434LB, Batavia, NY, July 11, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 11, 2015, 07:00 local (11:00 UTC) - Place: Batavia, NY - Coordinates: 43.031665, -78.169723 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0317&lon=-78.1697&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 August 12, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Rochester FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91565 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA267 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91565/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91565 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA267 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent loss of directional control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Brandt Leroy E BRANDT LEROY E 2PL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05903FV), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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: [Brandt Leroy E BRANDT LEROY E 2PL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05903FV), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Brandt Leroy E BRANDT LEROY E 2PL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=05903FV), [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Brandt Leroy E BRANDT LEROY E 2PL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05903FV), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Brandt Leroy E BRANDT LEROY E 2PL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05903FV), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the experimental light sport airplane was performing touch and go takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern. He stated that the second landing was "hard," but he continued the flight and performed a third takeoff and landing. The third landing was also hard, and the airplane bounced. The nose landing gear separated, and the airplane departed the runway and came to rest in the grass, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the experimental light sport airplane was performing touch and go takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern. He stated that the second landing was "hard," but he continued the flight and performed a third takeoff and landing. The third landing was also hard, and the airplane bounced. The nose landing gear separated, and the airplane departed the runway and came to rest in the grass, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N434LB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N434LB), registered now, S/N LB CH2 0207 98763, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BRANDT LEROY E CHALLENGER II - Registry model: [Brandt Leroy E BRANDT LEROY E 2PL](https://openairdocs.org/model/brandt-leroy-e-brandt-leroy-e-2pl) (registry code 05903FV) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-dcdi) (registry code 55566, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: LB CH2 0207 987 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 83.5 - Engines: Rotax 503 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Willard P. White - Registered owner: Willard P. White - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 15, 2015 - Departed: GVQ, Batavia, NY - Destination: GVQ, Batavia, NY - Airport: GVQ, Genesee county airport, runway 28, 5,499 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 243 total, 2 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 240° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: ROC, 22 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 20150711018499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150711018499A), Jul 11, 2015: Brandt Leroy E BRANDT LEROY E 2PL, Batavia, NY, Substantial damage. Genesee County Airport, Batavia, NY: N434LB, an experimental light sport, made a hard landing on runway 10/28 causing the main gear to collapse. POB: one,… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 6, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91565. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430505&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430506&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Interview - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430507&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Nose Gear (item 4, .PDF, 270 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430508&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Nose%20Gear-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Left Gear (item 5, .PDF, 349 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430509&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Left%20Gear-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Right Gear (item 6, .PDF, 329 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430510&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Right%20Gear-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.