GAA16CA523

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172 · Tooele, UT · September 16, 2016

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
September 16, 2016, 16:35 local (22:35 UTC)
Place
Tooele, UT
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N461SPCessna 172
Defining event
Landing: Hard landing
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 15, 2016
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20160916018709A
Case key
94143

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

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Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing.

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 · Student/instructed pilotCessna 172S: 206 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: landing flareAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 172S: 99 casesAll aircraft: 1,285 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 student pilot reported that the airplane landed hard and bounced and that she then pulled the yoke to the farthest aft position. She further reported that the airplane porpoised and that she applied the brakes; however, she "could not press the right brake fully". Subsequently, the airplane veered to the left side of the runway. A postaccident examination by a local mechanic revealed substantial damage to the yoke, which was broken at the lower attach point. Further, the rudder bearing cap on the pilot side inboard was damaged, the rudder springs were damaged and disconnected at the tunnel, and the floorboards and firewall were buckled and creased. The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that the airplane landed hard and bounced and that she then pulled the yoke to the farthest aft position. She further reported that the airplane porpoised and that she applied the brakes; however, she "could not press the right brake fully". Subsequently ,the airplane veered to the left side of the runway. A postaccident examination by a local mechanic revealed substantial damage to the yoke, which was broken at the lower attach point. Further, the rudder bearing cap on the pilot side inboard was damaged, the rudder springs were damaged and disconnected at the tunnel, and the floorboards and firewall were buckled and creased. The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N461SP
Reported as
Cessna 172 (S)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
172S8360
Built
2000
Engine
Lycoming IO360 SER A&C, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Departed
SLC · Salt Lake City, UT
Destination
TVY · Tooele, UT
Airport
TVY · Bolinder Field-Tooele Valley, runway 35, 6,100 × 100 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot

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

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
17
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
47.7 total · 47.7 in this make and model · 6.6 as pilot in command · 47.7 in the last 90 days · 7.4 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
360° at 9 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
70 °F, dew point 37 °F
Altimeter
30.14 inHg
Observed at
KTVY

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.8 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.