# NTSB ERA23LA015: ST Clair David L Tango 2, N55XT, Yulee, FL, October 9, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 9, 2022, 17:55 local (21:55 UTC) - Place: Yulee, FL - Coordinates: 30.627479, -81.537448 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6275&lon=-81.5374&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 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): 106109 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106109/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106109 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA015 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a hard, bounced landing that damaged the nose landing gear, resulting in an inability to maintain directional control and subsequent runway excursion. ## 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: [ST Clair David L TANGO 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056213S), [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 · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [ST Clair David L TANGO 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=056213S), [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: [ST Clair David L TANGO 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=056213S), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [ST Clair David L TANGO 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056213S), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [ST Clair David L TANGO 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056213S), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the approach to land the wind abruptly died down and the airplane began to sink as he passed over trees. He applied throttle to stop the airplane’s descent, but during the flare to land, the airplane was too fast and bounced on touchdown. The nose landing gear was damaged during the first bounce and the pilot was then unable to maintain directional control of the airplane. After departing the left side of the runway the airplane struck a fence and sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55XT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55XT), registered now, S/N T-022, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ST CLAIR DAVID L TANGO 2 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [ST Clair David L TANGO 2](https://openairdocs.org/model/st-clair-david-l-tango-2) (registry code 056213S) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: T-022 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 1489 - Engines: Teledyne Mattituck TMX O-360 B63B6676 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Utpal Dutta - Registered owner: Servitium USA Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Condition, February 25, 2022 - Departed: GPC, Greencastle, IN - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 83FL, Nassau Airport, runway 30, 3,150 × 60 ft, concrete - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 5, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 214 total, 31 in this make and model, 121 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 13 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: FHB, 4 nm away - METAR: KFHB 092155Z AUTO 07009KT 10SM CLR 25/21 A3011 RMK AO2 ## 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 20221009009419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221009009419A), Oct 9, 2022: St Clair David L TANGO 2, Yulee, FL, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted], Exp, made a hard landing, bounced and attempted to power up. Aircraft came to rest in a residential yard at [privacy data omitted].… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 6, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106109. 6.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14587520&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1web_ReaderCOMPLETED-accepted2_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14744767&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Pilot%20N55XT_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14921897&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20Template-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.