# NTSB FTW01LA070: Bartels Rans S-7, N777SB, Lafayette, LA, February 25, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 25, 2001, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Lafayette, LA - Coordinates: 30.239358, -91.989974 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2394&lon=-91.9900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 51819 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51819/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA070 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was practicing soft and short field landings at the private grass airstrip. He completed 15 landings to runway 09 and configured the airplane for a simulated engine failure and a short field landing. He stated that during the landing flare, the airplane "hit hard," and the right main landing gear failed. Subsequently, the airplane traveled 36 feet and came to rest inverted. ## Factual narrative On February 25, 2001, at 1730 central standard time, a Bartels Rans S-7 amateur-built airplane, N777SB, was substantially damaged during a hard landing on a private grass airstrip near Lafayette, Louisiana. The private pilot, who was the registered owner of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from the Abbeville Chris Crusta Memorial Airport, Abbeville, Louisiana, at 1700. The pilot reported that he was practicing soft and short field landings at the private grass airstrip, which is located 5 miles northeast of Abbeville. He completed 15 landings to runway 09 and configured the airplane for a simulated engine failure and a short field landing. He stated that during the landing flare, the airplane "hit hard," and the right main landing gear failed. Subsequently, the airplane traveled 36 feet and came to rest inverted. According to the FAA inspector, who examined the airplane at the airstrip, the right main landing gear separated from the airframe and the fuselage was buckled. The left wing-tip and wing strut were structurally damaged. He added that two blades of the three-bladed propeller separated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N777SB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N777SB-2012-10-11), registration cancelled 2012-10-11, S/N 0795150RA, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bartels Rans S-7 - Registry model: [Bartels Steve RANS S-7 COURIER](https://openairdocs.org/model/bartels-steve-rans-s-7-courier) (registry code 05607OX) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0795150RA - Airframe hours: 150.2 - Engines: Rotax 912S 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard D. Richard - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 21, 2000, 106.1 hours before - Departed: 0R3, Abbeville, LA - Destination: NONE, Lafayette, LA - Airport: NONE, Private Strip, runway 09, 2,400 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 27, 1999; seat: front; flight hours: 830 total, 108 in this make and model, 746 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F ## 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 20010225004659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010225004659A), Feb 25, 2001: Lafayette, LA, No damage. (-23) A/c right main landing gear failed during a hard landing. A/c then flipped over on it's back. Airman exited a/c without injury. 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.