# NTSB ERA17CA157: Aeropro CZ Eurofox LSA, N340TP, Kingsland, GA, April 15, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 15, 2017, 10:50 local (14:50 UTC)
- Place: Kingsland, GA
- Coordinates: 30.774723, -81.754447
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7747&lon=-81.7544&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 September 7, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 95021
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17CA157
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95021/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95021
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17CA157

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose-over.

## 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 attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeropro CZ EUROFOX LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0600024), [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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeropro CZ EUROFOX LSA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0600024), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Aeropro CZ EUROFOX LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=0600024), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/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: [Aeropro CZ EUROFOX LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0600024), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The commercial pilot, who was also the owner of the experimental, light-sport airplane, stated that the airplane approached the grass strip with "all systems operating correctly" and that he performed a side slip to lose altitude and align the airplane with the field. The airplane descended "very quickly," and at touchdown, the nose landing gear dug in and collapsed, and the airplane then nosed over and came to rest inverted. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector witnessed the accident, and a video of the accident was posted on a local media website. The inspector's description and the landing shown in the video were consistent with the pilot's description of events. The airplane landed hard in a flat attitude, the nose landing gear collapsed immediately, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted.

## Factual narrative

The commercial pilot, who was also the owner of the experimental light-sport airplane stated that the airplane approached the grass strip with "all systems operating correctly," he performed a side slip to lose altitude and align the airplane with the field. The airplane descended "very quickly," and at touchdown the nose landing gear dug in, collapsed, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector witnessed the accident, and a video of the accident was posted on a local media website. The inspector's description and the landing depicted in the video was consistent with the pilot's description of events. The airplane landed hard in a flat attitude, the nose landing gear collapsed immediately, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N340TP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N340TP-2017-12-06), registration cancelled 2017-12-06, S/N 20206, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROPRO CZ EUROFOX LSA (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Aeropro CZ EUROFOX LSA](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeropro-cz-eurofox-lsa) (registry code 0600024) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20206
- Year built: 2006
- Airframe hours: 400.7
- Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, June 9, 2016, 27 hours before
- Departed: FHB, FERNANDINA BEACH, FL
- Destination: N/A, Kingsland, GA
- Airport: N/A, Oakwell R/C Airfield, runway 048, 836 × 70 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, sport pilot; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,637.3 total, 400.7 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observed at: KFHB, 18 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 20170415006399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170415006399A), Apr 15, 2017: Aeropro Cz EUROFOX LSA, Kingsland, GA, Substantial damage. On April 15, 2017, about 1100 eastern standard time in camden county Georgia, N340TP 2006 Aeropro Cz eurofox light sport experimental was attempting to land in…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95021. 992 KB in all.

- Memorandum for Record - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455531&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455532&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF
- FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455533&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - Video of Accident Review (NTSB) (item 4, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455534&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Video%20of%20Accident%20Review%20(NTSB)-Master.PDF
- Docket Photo Array (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 4 photos, 786 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455535&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Docket%20Photo%20Array%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.

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