# NTSB GAA17CA029: Airplane Factory Sling, N232SL, Torrance, CA, October 3, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 3, 2016, 13:47 local (20:47 UTC) - Place: Torrance, CA - Coordinates: 33.803333, -118.339721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8033&lon=-118.3397&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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): 94239 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94239/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94239 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA029 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a porpoised hard landing and a runway excursion. ## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Airplane Factory Ltd The SLING, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060009A), [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 · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Airplane Factory Ltd The SLING, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=060009A), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Airplane Factory Ltd The SLING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=060009A), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: [Airplane Factory Ltd The SLING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=060009A), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Airplane Factory Ltd The SLING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=060009A), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Airplane Factory Ltd The SLING, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=060009A), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Airplane Factory Ltd The SLING, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=060009A), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that during landing in crosswind conditions, the airplane "porpoised back into the air two or three times, finally striking the nose gear hard." He further reported that the nose gear had been damaged and the airplane veered off the runway to the right. The engine mounts sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observing system at the accident airport, near the time of the accident, recorded the wind at 240 degrees true at 16 knots. The student pilot reported that the landing was on runway 29 right. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that during landing in crosswind conditions, the airplane "porpoised back into the air two or three times, finally striking the nose gear hard." He further reported that the nose gear had been damaged and the airplane veered off the runway to the right. The engine mounts sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observing system at the accident airport, near the time of the accident, recorded the wind at 240 degrees true at 16 knots. The student pilot reported that the landing was on runway 29 right. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N232SL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N232SL), registered now, S/N 177, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRPLANE FACTORY (PTY) LTD SLING - Registry model: [Airplane Factory Ltd The SLING](https://openairdocs.org/model/airplane-factory-ltd-the-sling) (registry code 060009A) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912 IS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-is-series) (registry code 55593, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 177 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 895 - Engines: Rotax 912 IS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Sling Flying Club LLC. - Registered owner: Airplane Factory Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special flight (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 21, 2016 - Departed: CRQ, CARLSBAD, CA - Destination: TOA, Torrance, CA - Airport: TOA, Zamperini Field, runway 29R, 5,001 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 56; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 66 total, 31 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 16 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KTOA ## 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 20161003016179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161003016179A), Oct 3, 2016: The Airplane Factory(Pty) Ltd SLING, Torrance, CA, Substantial damage. On landing, aircraft veered off runway 29R. Aircraft came to a stop. Pilot was unable to taxi aircraft and called for help. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94239. 438 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 256 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458992&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 182 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447039&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. --- 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.