# NTSB ERA20CA304: Tecnam P92, N508TE, Charlottesville, VA, August 28, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 28, 2020, 15:50 local (19:50 UTC) - Place: Charlottesville, VA - Coordinates: 38.13972, -78.452224 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1397&lon=-78.4522&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): 101903 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA304 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101903/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101903 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA304 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and a nose landing gear collapse. ## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 ECHO SUPER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0600007), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 ECHO SUPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0600007), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 ECHO SUPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=0600007), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/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: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 ECHO SUPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=0600007), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 ECHO SUPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0600007), [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: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 ECHO SUPER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=0600007), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that during a cross-country flight, he entered the traffic pattern at his first destination, and while on final approach he needed to add power to correct the airplane’s low approach. During the touchdown he reported that the “nose wheel dropped hard and bounced twice and damaged the front nose wheel and the prop.” Subsequently, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded to a stop on the runway. The airplane’s engine mount sustained substantial damage. Review of airport security video showed that the airplane touched down and bounced three times. On the third touchdown, the airplane did not become airborne again and stopped shortly after. The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N508TE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N508TE), registered now, S/N 1110, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TECNAM P92 (EA) - Registry model: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 ECHO SUPER](https://openairdocs.org/model/costruzioni-aeronautiche-tecna-p92-echo-super) (registry code 0600007) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1110 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 2448 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 98 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Heart of Virginia Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Heart of Virginia Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 22, 2019 - Departed: OFP, Richmond/Ashland, VA - Destination: CHO, Charlottesville, VA - Airport: CHO, Charlottesville-Albemarle, runway 21, 6,801 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Data recorder, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 25; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 44 total, 44 in this make and model, 5.8 as pilot in command, 6.4 in the last 90 days, 2.6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: CHO ## 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 20200828013669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200828013669A), Aug 28, 2020: Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 ECHO SUPER, Charlottesvile, VA, Substantial damage. Student pilot was conducting his solo cross country requirement for private pilot certification from kofp (hanover county airport) to kcho (Charlottesville… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101903. 87.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11573450&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record (FAA inspector) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11573806&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20Record%20(FAA%20Inspector)-Rel.pdf - Airport video of accident landing (item 3, AVI, 82.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11573480&FileExtension=avi&FileName=VIDEO%20COURTESY%20OF%20SIGNATURE%20FS-Rel.avi - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11573490&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.