# NTSB ERA20CA215: Pipistrel Pipistrel Sinus 912, N783TH, Brookline, NH, June 13, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 13, 2020, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Brookline, NH - Coordinates: 42.741664, -71.707496 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7417&lon=-71.7075&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA / FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101436 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA215 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101436/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101436 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA215 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while landing with a quartering tailwind, which resulted in a loss of control and a hard landing. ## 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: [Theodor M Hauri PIPISTREL SINUS 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05636JA), [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: [Theodor M Hauri PIPISTREL SINUS 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05636JA), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Theodor M Hauri PIPISTREL SINUS 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=05636JA), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/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) (defining event); cases with it: [Theodor M Hauri PIPISTREL SINUS 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05636JA), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Theodor M Hauri PIPISTREL SINUS 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05636JA), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Theodor M Hauri PIPISTREL SINUS 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05636JA), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the experimental, amateur-built motor glider was landing on a 1,926-ft-long, 24-ft-wide runway with about a 6 knot quartering tailwind. During his first attempted landing the motor glider was high and fast on approach and the pilot elected to go-around. During his second attempt, the motor glider was also high and fast but the pilot elected to continue the approach to landing, using full air brakes and wing flaps. During the approach, he slowed the motor glider to 40 knots (6 knots above stall speed), and the motor glider then seemed to drop from about 10 ft above the runway and land hard. The right landing gear leg collapsed, and the motor glider veered off the right side of the runway, struck a vertical approach slope indicator, and was substantially damaged. Review of the Pilot's Operating Handbook revealed that the final approach speed should always be 55 knots with full flaps regardless of approaching with zero or full airbrakes. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the motor glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N783TH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N783TH), registered now, S/N 467 S 912 KIT, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Pipistrel PIPISTREL SINUS 912 (No Series) - Registry model: [Theodor M Hauri PIPISTREL SINUS 912](https://openairdocs.org/model/theodor-m-hauri-pipistrel-sinus-912) (registry code 05636JA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS2](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls2) (registry code 55599, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider, amateur-built - Serial number: 467 S 912 KIT - Year built: 2019 - Airframe hours: 10 - Engines: Rotax 912 UL2 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 12, 2019, 10 hours before - Departed: NH16, Brookline, NH - Destination: NH16, Brookline, NH - Airport: NH16, Brookline, runway 19, 1,926 × 24 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, ADS-B, Airframe parachute ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 20, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 770 total, 10 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KASH, 9 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 20200613006069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200613006069A), Jun 13, 2020: Theodor M Hauri PIPISTREL SINUS 912, Brookline, NH, Substantial damage. On June 13, 2020, N783TH, an experimental amateur built pipistrel sinus 912 self-propelled/motorglider, operated by the builder (construction completed 2019)… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101436. 8.5 MB in all. - Inspector's statement (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9925533&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Inspector%27s%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpts from POH (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 839 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9934631&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20POH-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records - kash metars (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9926006&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records%20-%20KASH%20METARs-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records - kfit metars (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9925299&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records%20-%20KFIT%20METARs-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 16 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9925125&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Satellite image of accident area (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 423 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9926015&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Satellite%20Image%20of%20Accident%20Area-Rel.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.