GAA16CA362

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna U206 · Ely, NV · June 30, 2016

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 30, 2016, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
Place
Ely, NV
Injuries
3 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N9304RCessna U206
Defining event
Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 31, 2016
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA, Deptartment of Interior
FAA report
20160630011059A
Case key
93543

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The flight instructor's incorrect pitch control during the landing flare, which resulted in a tail strike.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilotCessna U206G: 13 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: pitch controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operationCessna U206G: 1 caseAll aircraft: 526 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The flight instructor reported that during a public-use flight in a single-engine airplane, he was providing instruction to an airline transport pilot who was only rated for multi-engine airplanes. The flight instructor further reported that the pilot receiving instruction was the pilot flying and was "fast" on final approach. During the landing flare, the airplane ballooned and bounced once. After the bounce, the flight instructor applied aft flight control pressure because he believed the airplane was going to touch down nose wheel first. The subsequent landing roll was completed without further incident. After loading additional passengers, the flight instructor completed the return flight to their domicile without further incident. During a post-flight inspection damage was found to the tail hook and aft fuselage area. Further inspection revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft bulkhead, which was likely the result of a tail strike during the bounced landing during the previous flight. The flight instructor reported that he did not hear the tail strike during the bounced landing and he did not inspect the empennage before departing for the terminating destination. The flight instructor did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

The flight instructor reported that during a public-use flight in a single-engine airplane, he was providing instruction to an airline transport pilot who was only rated for multi-engine airplanes. The flight instructor further reported that the pilot receiving instruction was the pilot flying and was "fast" on final approach. During the landing flare, the airplane ballooned and bounced once. After the bounce, the flight instructor applied aft flight control pressure because he believed the airplane was going to touch down nose wheel first. The subsequent landing roll was completed without further incident. After loading additional passengers, the flight instructor completed the return flight to their domicile without further incident. During a post-flight inspection damage was found to the tail hook and aft fuselage area. Further inspection revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft bulkhead, which was likely the result of a tail strike during the bounced landing during the previous flight. The flight instructor reported that he did not hear the tail strike during the bounced landing and he did not inspect the empennage before departing for the terminating destination. The flight instructor did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N9304R
Reported as
Cessna U206 (G)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
U20606830
Built
1984
Airframe hours
8,226.3
Engine
Teledyne Continental IO-520-F17B, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Public aircraft - federal · Public use
Operator
United States Department Of Interior
Registered owner
United States Department Of Interior
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Last inspection
100 hour · October 1, 2015
Departed
BOI · Boise, ID
Destination
ELY · Ely, NV
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
ELY · Ely Arpt /Yelland Fld/, runway 18, 6,018 × 150 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Satellite tracking device, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
45
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane, Helicopter
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
May 25, 2016
Seat
Right
Flight hours
7,020 total · 50 in this make and model · 6,440 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Role
Student pilot
Age
44
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
June 6, 2016
Seat
Left
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
5,025 total · 18 in this make and model · 2,419 as pilot in command · 31 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
81 °F, dew point 45 °F
Altimeter
30.20 inHg
Observed at
KELY

Docket · 5

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 16, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.0 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.