# NTSB ERA22LA299: Arnold J/Jones D L AIR CAM, N6272Z, Sebring, FL, July 3, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 3, 2022, 07:10 local (11:10 UTC)
- Place: Sebring, FL
- Coordinates: 27.451431, -81.342912 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4514&lon=-81.3429&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: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: Lockwood Aviation, FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105425
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA299
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105425/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105425
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA299

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of control during landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Arnold J/Jones D L AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=056068L), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Arnold J/Jones D L AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=056068L), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: [Arnold J/Jones D L AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=056068L), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Arnold J/Jones D L AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=056068L), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Arnold J/Jones D L AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=056068L), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md)
- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333); cases with it: [Arnold J/Jones D L AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=056068L), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Arnold J/Jones D L AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056068L), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Arnold J/Jones D L AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056068L), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot entered the base leg of the airport traffic pattern for landing, then he turned left onto the final leg of the airport traffic pattern, with no reported discrepancies of the aileron flight control system at this time. He “overshot” the extended runway centerline and reported the airplane was low. Airport surveillance video depicted the outer portion of the right wing impacting the ground. The pilot further indicated, “…he was not ready…” for the first touchdown and bounced a couple feet adding that the airplane touched down, “hard”, resulting in the right main landing gear wheel separating. He knew the airplane was right of the runway centerline, so he added full throttle to go-around reporting both engines responded. During the go-around he could not raise the right wing despite left aileron and rudder input. Surveillance video captured the airplane completing nearly a right 720º turn while climbing and then descending. The airplane impacted the runway while in a nose and right wing-low attitude and rolled inverted resulting in substantial damage to the right wing, cockpit, and nose section of the airplane. Postaccident examination of the flight control system for pitch and yaw by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration revealed control continuity with no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. Examination of the roll flight control system revealed a rod end for an aileron pushrod inside the right wing exhibited bending overload with no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction; no other separations were noted. Since there were no reported issues while banking left prior to the first touchdown, it is likely that the aileron flight control system was damaged as a result of the right wing contact during the first touchdown, which resulted in an uncommanded right roll that the pilot could not correct.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6272Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6272Z-2024-02-03), registration cancelled 2024-02-03, S/N AC014 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ARNOLD J/JONES D L AIR CAM (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Arnold J/Jones D L AIR CAM](https://openairdocs.org/model/arnold-j-jones-d-l-air-cam) (registry code 056068L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: AC014
- Year built: 1999
- Airframe hours: 649
- Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating; Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2022, 10.6 hours before
- Departed: 03FA, Lake Placid, FL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: SEF, Sebring Rgnl, runway 1, 5,234 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 13, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 350 total, 50 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 79 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: KSEF, 1 nm away
- METAR: KSEF 031155Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 27/26 A3010 RMK AO2 T02660262 10267 20231 70001

## 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 20220703013239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220703013239A), Jul 3, 2022: Arnold J/Jones D L AIR CAM, Sebring, FL, Destroyed. On July 3, 2022 at approximately 0710 EST, an Air Cam aircraft registration [privacy data omitted]approached runway 01 at Sebring airport (ksef). As the…

## Docket (10 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 14, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105425. 13.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14714368&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Recd%207%2025%202022_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Witness statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 648 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14714556&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of NTSB conversation (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14714868&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Record%20of%20Convo%20w%20Pete%20Marlen%20Greene%207%2014%202022%20v01_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector statement (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 238 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14715029&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Inspector%20Statement%20N6272Z%20(Sebring)%20Updated%205%20Aug%202022_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Excerpts from maintenance records (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14713861&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Maintenance%20Records_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14885453&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs_ERA22LA299-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - descriptions of videos (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 749 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14888316&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20Video%20Segment%20Description%20v02-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - flight control and flap systems examination (item 8, PDF, 2 pages, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14885536&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20For%20Record%20-%20Airframe%20Exam%20v01-Rel.pdf
- Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 9, PDF, 10 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14714665&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Forms%20w%20Attachments_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 10, PDF, 1 page, 660 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14884128&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fully%20Exctd%20NTSB%20Wreckage%20Release%20Form_N6272Z_ERA22LA299_Redacted-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.

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