# NTSB ERA22LA222: Charles R Kyle Zenith Stol CH 701, N701VX, Culpepper, VA, May 5, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 5, 2022, 09:25 local (13:25 UTC) - Place: Culpepper, VA - Coordinates: 38.525472, -77.859639 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5255&lon=-77.8596&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - 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): 105068 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA222 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105068/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105068 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA222 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper glidepath, which resulted in a hard landing and 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Charles R Kyle ZENITH STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05639UL), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Charles R Kyle ZENITH STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=05639UL), [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Charles R Kyle ZENITH STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05639UL), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Charles R Kyle ZENITH STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05639UL), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Charles R Kyle ZENITH STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05639UL), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he completed two landings uneventfully. During the third approach, the airplane was high, and the pilot attempted to recover the approach while maintaining an airspeed of 60 mph. The airplane developed a high sink rate and landed hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the lower fuselage. During the landing, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane skidded about 50 ft before coming to rest upright on the runway. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N701VX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N701VX-2023-10-07), registration cancelled 2023-10-07, S/N 7-6028, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHARLES R KYLE ZENITH STOL CH 701 - Registry model: [Charles R Kyle ZENITH STOL CH 701](https://openairdocs.org/model/charles-r-kyle-zenith-stol-ch-701) (registry code 05639UL) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 7-6028 - Year built: 2022 - Airframe hours: 5 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 10, 2022, 5 hours before - Airport: CJR, Culpeper Regional Airport, runway 4, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review October 4, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 336 total, 5 in this make and model, 275 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 8 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,700 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KCJR - METAR: METAR KCJR 051335Z AUTO 04008G14KT 10SM BKN027 19/11 A3013 ## 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 20220505020569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220505020569A), May 5, 2022: Charles R Kyle ZENITH STOL CH 701, Brandy Station, VA, Substantial damage. Investigation. Pilot arrived at airport at approximately 08:45L EDT to perform preflight inspection prior to conducting the flight. He found no anomalies. He… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 25, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105068. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13858224&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 288 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13859477&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.