# NTSB GAA17CA184: CSP Leasing Cavalon, N425AG, Santa Maria, CA, March 10, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 10, 2017, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Santa Maria, CA - Coordinates: 34.895, -120.448608 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8950&lon=-120.4486&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 15, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94860 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94860/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94860 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA184 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent failure to maintain crosswind correction during landing in crosswind conditions. ## 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: [CSP Leasing CAVALON, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05634DE), [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: [CSP Leasing CAVALON, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05634DE), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [CSP Leasing CAVALON, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=05634DE), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [CSP Leasing CAVALON, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05634DE), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [CSP Leasing CAVALON, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05634DE), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [CSP Leasing CAVALON, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05634DE), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, during a stop-and-go landing in crosswind conditions, the gyroplane bounced about 4 ft. He added that the wind lifted the gyroplane and that he did not have "the speed or rudder control to counteract" the drift. The gyroplane impacted the ground on its right side. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that, about 39 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 300° at 8 knots. The gyroplane landed on runway 30. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that during a stop-and-go landing in crosswind conditions, the gyroplane bounced about 4 ft. He added that the wind lifted the gyroplane and he did not have "the speed or rudder control to counteract" the drift. The gyroplane impacted the ground on its right side. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that about 39 minutes before the accident the wind was 300° at 8 knots. The gyroplane landed on runway 30. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N425AG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N425AG-2023-06-03), registration cancelled 2023-06-03, S/N V00208, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CSP LEASING LLC CAVALON (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [CSP Leasing CAVALON](https://openairdocs.org/model/csp-leasing-cavalon) (registry code 05634DE) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: V00208 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 129 - Engines: Rotax 914 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 8, 2016 - Departed: SMX, Santa Maria, CA - Destination: SMX, Santa Maria, CA - Airport: SMX, Santa Maria Pub/Capt G Allan H, runway 30, 8,004 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 72; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; flight hours: 85 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 8 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KSMX ## 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 20170310002439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170310002439A), Mar 10, 2017: Csp Leasing LLC CAVALON, Santa Maria, CA, Substantial damage. The pilot had flown with an instructor for most of his logged time and was endorsed for solo flight. The pilot was conducting solo flight, in the pattern, at… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 5, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94860. 434 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 255 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454454&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450744&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.