GAA16CA529

NTSB accident investigation · Evektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar · Delaware, OH · September 2, 2016

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
September 2, 2016, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC)
Place
Delaware, OH
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N904LAEvektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar
Defining event
Landing: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 6, 2017
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20160902013729A
Case key
94451

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 student pilot’s inadequate compensation for the quartering tailwind on landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

Findings · 4

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.

Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedEvektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR: 10 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilotEvektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR: 16 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Wind: tailwindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensationEvektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR: 1 caseAll aircraft: 594 casesProbable cause
Wind: tailwindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationEvektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR: 1 caseAll aircraft: 594 cases

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 during his first supervised solo landing that was conducted in light and variable crosswind conditions, he initiated a go around because, the wind had pushed him off course, and he was no longer in a good position to land. He further reported that during his second approach "everything looked good", but that immediately after the wheels touched down, the airplane veered to the left. He tried to compensate but "very quickly lost control". Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway to the left, the nose gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. A post-accident examination revealed substantial damage to the right wing rear spar. The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of local weather at the time of the accident showed the wind 070 degrees true at 6 nautical miles per hour, and not gusting. The student pilot landed on runway 28.

Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that during his first supervised solo landing that was conducted in light and variable crosswind conditions, he initiated a go around because, the wind had pushed him off course, and he was no longer in a good position to land. He further reported that during his second approach "everything looked good", but that immediately after the wheels touched down, the airplane veered to the left. He tried to compensate but "very quickly lost control". Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway to the left, the nose gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. A post-accident examination revealed substantial damage to the right wing rear spar. The student pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of local weather at the time of the accident showed the wind 070 degrees true at 6 nautical miles per hour, and not gusting. The student pilot landed runway 28.

Aircraft

Registration
N904LA
Reported as
Evektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar (NO SERIES)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
20070904
Built
2007
Engine
Rotax ULS, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
Last inspection
100 hour · August 30, 2016
Departed
DLZ · Delaware, OH
Destination
DLZ · Delaware, OH
Airport
DLZ · Delaware Muni - Jim Moore Fiel, runway 28, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Electronic primary flight display

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
Student pilot
Age
40
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Sport pilot, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
28.7 total · 20 in this make and model · 18.6 in the last 90 days · 2.5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
70° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
63 °F, dew point 55 °F
Altimeter
30.20 inHg
Observed at
KDLZ

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 13, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.1 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.

Other investigations on N904LA · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.