# NTSB GAA15CA016: Flight Design Ctls, N566FD, Mount Vernon, OH, March 18, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 18, 2015, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place: Mount Vernon, OH
- Coordinates: 40.328887, -82.525558 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3289&lon=-82.5256&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: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 1, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90916
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA016
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90916/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90916
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA016

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of control.

## Findings

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

- [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Flight Design CTLS, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The solo student pilot was on a local flight to practice touch and go landings in a light sport airplane. During the second landing attempt, the airplane touched down hard on the runway and bounced. The airplane bounced again before the pilot initiated a go around. As the pilot added power, the airplane descended nose first into the runway. The postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to firewall and fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The solo student pilot was on a local flight to practice touch and go landings in a light sport airplane. During the second landing attempt, the airplane touched down hard on the runway and bounced. Then bounced again before the pilot initiated a go around. As the pilot added power, the airplane descended nose first into the runway, and the nose gear collapsed. The postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to firewall and fuselage. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N566FD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N566FD), registered now, S/N 08-03-06, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FLIGHT DESIGN CTLS
- Registry model: [Flight Design CTLS](https://openairdocs.org/model/flight-design-ctls) (registry code 060005B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 08-03-06
- Year built: 2008
- Airframe hours: 2576
- Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: New Flyers Association
- Registered owner: B S Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 2, 2015
- Departed: KOSU, Columbus, OH
- Destination: 4I3, Mount Vernon, OH
- Airport: 4I3, Knox County, runway 28, 5,498 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Airframe parachute, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 57; injuries: none; student; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 32.2 total, 28.1 in this make and model, 4.8 as pilot in command, 32.2 in the last 90 days, 20.2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observed at: K4I3

## 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 20150318002769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150318002769A), Mar 18, 2015: Flight Design Gmbh CTLS, Mount Vernon, OH, Substantial damage. On March 18, 2015 a student pilot departed the Ohio state university airport (kosu), columbus, OH for the Knox County Airport (4I3), Mount Vernon, OH…

## Other investigations on N566FD (1)

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.

- [NTSB CEN12IA451](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12IA451), Jul 16, 2012: Flight Design Ctls (N566FD), Marysville, OH, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: Fatigue failure of the left main wheel assembly on takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control and runway excursion.

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 20, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90916. 3.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426704&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Written Description of Damage in Pictures (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426709&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Written%20Description%20of%20Damage%20in%20Pictures%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 – Aft Side of Firewall Co-Pilot side (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426705&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Aft%20Side%20of%20Firewall%20Co-Pilot%20side%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – Aft Side of Firewall Pilot Side (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 218 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426706&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Aft%20Side%20of%20Firewall%20Pilot%20Side%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 – Bottom Left Side of Fuselage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426707&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20Bottom%20Left%20Side%20of%20Fuselage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 4 – Engine Lower Attach Point (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 177 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426708&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20%E2%80%93%20Engine%20Lower%20Attach%20Point%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.