# NTSB ERA20CA107: Orlican L60, N71GC, Frederick, MD, February 21, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 21, 2020, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Frederick, MD - Coordinates: 39.417499, -77.374168 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4175&lon=-77.3742&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 August 27, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100976 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100976/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100976 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA107 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the approach, which resulted in the airplane ballooning and then veering left upon landing and the right wing impacting the runway. ## 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: [Orlican NP Chocen L-60 SF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05610TR), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Orlican NP Chocen L-60 SF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05610TR), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Orlican NP Chocen L-60 SF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05610TR), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [Orlican NP Chocen L-60 SF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05610TR), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Orlican NP Chocen L-60 SF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05610TR), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Orlican NP Chocen L-60 SF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05610TR), [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: [Orlican NP Chocen L-60 SF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05610TR), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Orlican NP Chocen L-60 SF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05610TR), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was practicing landings as part of a check-out flight. During the final approach, the airplane ballooned slightly, which the pilot attributed to a wind gust. He flared the balloon and then touched down, and the airplane began to veer left. He attempted to correct with full right rudder, right brake, and left aileron. As the airplane came to a stop on the runway, the right main landing gear buckled, and the right wing struck the runway. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was calm; however, the pilot reported that, after he egressed from the airplane, he saw that the windsock indicated a crosswind. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the airplane was in the process of being purchased from the previous owner, and the purpose of the flight was to practice landings as part of a check-out flight. During the second landing on runway 05, the airplane ballooned slightly during the flare, which the pilot attributed to a wind gust. After touchdown, the airplane began to veer left. He attempted to correct with full right rudder, right brake and left aileron, but he was unsuccessful. As the airplane came to a stop on the runway, the right main landing gear buckled, and the right wing struck the runway, which resulted in substantial damage. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was calm; however, the pilot reported that after he egressed from the airplane, he observed that the windsock indicated a crosswind. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71GC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71GC), registered now, S/N 150827 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Orlican L60 (SF) - Registry model: [Orlican NP Chocen L-60 SF](https://openairdocs.org/model/orlican-np-chocen-l-60-sf) (registry code 05610TR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 150827 - Year built: 1958 - Airframe hours: 3925 - Engines: Walter M462RF 315 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Deutsch American Trading Llc - Registered owner: Deutsch American Trading Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 17, 2019 - Departed: FDK, Frederick, MD - Destination: FDK, Frederick, MD - Airport: FDK, Frederick Muni, runway 05, 5,219 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 4, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,024 total, 1 in this make and model, 1,003 as pilot in command, 10 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: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.54 inHg - Observed at: FDK ## 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 20200221000369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200221000369A), Feb 21, 2020: Orlican Np Chocen L-60 SF, Frederick, MD, Substantial damage. February 21, 2020, [privacy data omitted] was practicing touch and goes on rwy 05 at kfdk. While in pattern a windshift occurred from 050 at 3 to 330 at 8.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 16, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100976. 6.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483518&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 501 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483519&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.