# NTSB GAA16CA522: Dieterich Robert A AIR CAM, N322BD, McCall, ID, September 11, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 10, 2016, 22:23 local (Sep 11, 2016, 04:23 UTC)
- Place: McCall, ID
- Coordinates: 44.891944, -116.101943 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8919&lon=-116.1019&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 18, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94131
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA522
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94131/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94131
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA522

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and the left main landing gear wheel separating from the airplane, followed by an aborted landing, and a subsequent ground loop during the follow-on 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: [Dieterich Robert A AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05605T3), [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: [Dieterich Robert A AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05605T3), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Dieterich Robert A AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05605T3), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Dieterich Robert A AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=05605T3), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md)
- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Dieterich Robert A AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05605T3), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Dieterich Robert A AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05605T3), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Dieterich Robert A AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05605T3), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector, the pilot made a hard landing and the left main landing gear wheel separated from the airplane. Subsequently, the pilot aborted the landing, and on the second landing, the airplane ground looped. The airplane received substantial damage to the lift struts and lower fuselage. After multiple attempts to contact the pilot, the pilot did not fill out the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report, or talk to the National Transportation Safety Board in regard to the accident.

## Factual narrative

According to a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector, the pilot made a hard landing and the left main landing gear wheel separated from the airplane. Subsequently, the pilot aborted the landing, and on the second landing, the airplane ground looped. The airplane received substantial damage to the lift struts and lower fuselage. After multiple attempts to contact the pilot, the pilot did not fill out the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report, or talk to the National Transportation Safety Board in regard to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N322BD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N322BD-2018-06-26), registration cancelled 2018-06-26, S/N AC048, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DIETERICH ROBERT A AIR CAM (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Dieterich Robert A AIR CAM](https://openairdocs.org/model/dieterich-robert-a-air-cam) (registry code 05605T3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: AC048
- Year built: 1999
- Engines: unknown; unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: MYL, Mc Call Muni
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 85; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: KMYL, 1 nm away

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 13, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94131. 566 KB in all.

- FAA Inspector's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447563&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 454 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447564&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%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.

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