# NTSB GAA16CA502: Arion Skys Open Sport Lightning, N481SL, St. Augustine, FL, August 24, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 24, 2016, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: St. Augustine, FL - Coordinates: 29.959167, -81.339721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9592&lon=-81.3397&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 10, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94062 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA502 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94062/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94062 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA502 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## 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: [Skys Open Sport LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05630S8), [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: [Skys Open Sport LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05630S8), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of available resources](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063035): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Skys Open Sport LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063035/cases.md?model=05630S8), [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063035/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Skys Open Sport LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05630S8), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Skys Open Sport LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05630S8), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot of the experimental light-sport airplane, following a personal flight, he made a straight-in approach to runway 13. He recalled that the tower reported the wind as 070° at 12 knots. During the approach, the airplane encountered "convective turbulence," but he established a stabilized approach over the runway centerline. He remarked that, about 5 ft above the runway, the airplane encountered what he estimated to be a 20-knot or greater wind gust. He reported that the airplane ballooned and touched down on the nosewheel, the propeller struck the ground, and he used differential braking to stop the airplane on the runway. The nose landing gear separated from the airplane, and the engine mounts and the spar box sustained substantial damage. The METAR at the accident airport indicated that, at the time of the accident, the wind was 040° true at 12 knots. There were no METARs throughout the day at the accident airport that indicated wind gusts. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have prevented normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot in the experimental light-sport airplane, following a personal flight he made a straight-in approach to runway 13. He recalled that the tower reported the wind as 070° at 12 knots. During the approach the airplane encountered "convective turbulence," but he established a stabilized approach over the runway centerline. He remarked that about five feet above the runway the airplane encountered what he estimated to be a 20 knot or greater wind gust. He reported that the airplane ballooned, touched down on the nose wheel, the propeller struck the ground, and he used differential braking to stop the airplane on the runway. The nose landing gear separated from the airplane, and substantial damage was sustained to the engine mounts and the spar box. The meteorological aerodrome report (METAR) at the accident airport, indicated that at the time of the accident the wind was 040° true, at 12 knots. There were no METAR's throughout the day, at the accident airport, that indicated wind gusts. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have prevented normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N481SL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N481SL), registered now, S/N 121, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ARION SKYS OPEN SPORT AVIATION LIGHTNING - Registry model: [Skys Open Sport LIGHTNING](https://openairdocs.org/model/skys-open-sport-lightning) (registry code 05630S8) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34802, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 121 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 250 - Engines: JABIRU 3300 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 25, 2016 - Departed: SYI, Shelbyville, TN - Destination: SGJ, St. Augustine, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SGJ, Northeast Florida Rgnl, runway 13, 8,002 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, Stall warning system, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 5, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 402 total, 9 in this make and model, 300 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KSGJ ## 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 20160824014079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160824014079A), Aug 24, 2016: Skys Open Sport Aviation LLC LIGHTNING, St Augustine, FL, Substantial damage. Aircraft was attempting to land runway 13 st. Augustine, Florida (sgj), about ten feet above the runway, when the pilot experienced a wind sheer (crosswind… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 22, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94062. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450175&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 239 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450176&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%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.