# NTSB ERA23LA211: Aeropilot S R O Legend 600, N600LD, Vero Beach, FL, April 8, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 8, 2023, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Vero Beach, FL · On Runway 18 at X52
- Coordinates: 27.632255, -80.527554 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6323&lon=-80.5276&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- 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): 107163
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA211
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/107163/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107163
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA211

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a nose landing gear collapse and subsequent noseover. Contributing was the rough condition of the runway, as described by the pilot, and his decision to operate from it.

## 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: [Aeropilot S R O LEGEND 600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=06001BA), [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: [Aeropilot S R O LEGEND 600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=06001BA), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeropilot S R O LEGEND 600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=06001BA), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeropilot S R O LEGEND 600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=06001BA), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeropilot S R O LEGEND 600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=06001BA), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Aeropilot S R O LEGEND 600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=06001BA), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Aeropilot S R O LEGEND 600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=06001BA), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Aeropilot S R O LEGEND 600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=06001BA), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot departed from the turf runway at his home airport, which he described as “extremely rough,” for a solo flight in the airport traffic pattern. The pilot stated that the first 300 feet of the runway past the displaced threshold was “a very soft area” and a cone had been placed there, so he landed the airplane about 700 feet from the displaced threshold. The airplane bounced back into the air to a height of about 7 to 8 feet and the pilot added power and increased back pressure on the control wheel to hold the nose wheel off the runway. The airplane then touched down again on the main landing gear and the nose wheel again touched down on the runway. The nose wheel then contacted 3 to 5 “bumps” before settling into the turf, the lower portion of the nose landing gear separated, and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The student pilot received minor injuries and the airplane’s fuselage and empennage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Review of the student pilot’s logbook revealed that his presolo aeronautical knowledge endorsement indicated that he was aware of the flight characteristics and operational limitations of the airplane, as well as the airspace rules and procedures for the airport, which he had flown the airplane in and out of and landed at on at least 18 separate occasions. He therefore should also have been aware of the runway conditions. Given this information, it is likely that the student pilot’s landing technique was not appropriate for the condition of the turf runway, and that the techniques he used to recover from the bounced landing resulted in subsequent nose landing gear collapse and noseover.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N600LD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N600LD), registered now, S/N 1531, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROPILOT S R O LEGEND 600
- Registry model: [Aeropilot S R O LEGEND 600](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeropilot-s-r-o-legend-600) (registry code 06001BA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1531
- Year built: 2016
- Airframe hours: 721
- Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2023, 23 hours before
- Departed: X52, Vero Beach, FL
- Airport: X52, New Hibiscus Airpark, runway 18, 3,120 × 150 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: ADS-B, Airframe parachute

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 43; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 81 total, 69 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KVRB, 6 nm away
- METAR: METAR KVRB 081853Z 12012KT 10SM BKN110 28/20 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP171 T02780200=

## 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 20230408004629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230408004629A), Apr 8, 2023: Aeropilot S R O LEGEND 600, Vero Beach, FL, Substantial damage. On 04/08/2023, aircraft flipped over during landing at the New Hibiscus Airpark (X52) at approx. 11:00AM. No reported injuries, aircraft sustained substantial…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 16, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107163. 7.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16292233&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20(Signed)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - information provided by FAA (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16292824&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20Information%20Provided%20by%20Inspector%20Ryan%20Sebak-Rel.pdf
- Excerpts from student pilot's logbook (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16293070&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Pilot%20Logbook_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Excerpt from legend 600 POH - wind speed limits (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 339 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16307101&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpt%20From%20Legend%20600%20POH%20-%20Crosswinds-Rel.pdf
- Weather reports and records - kvrb metars and tafs (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16292538&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records%20-%20KVRB%20METARs-Rel.pdf
- Weather reports and records - crosswind component calculator (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16292780&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Crosswind%20Component%20Calculator-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 7, PDF, 8 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16293170&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.

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