GAA17CA303

NTSB accident investigation · Dehavilland DHC 6 · Perris, CA · May 24, 2017

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
May 24, 2017, 15:15 local (22:15 UTC)
Place
Perris, CA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N708PVDehavilland DHC 6
Defining event
Landing: Loss of control in flight
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 3, 2017
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20170524015139A
Case key
95231

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 prospective pilot’s improper landing flare and the pilot’s delayed remedial action to initiate a go-around, which resulted in a runway excursion.

Findings · 5

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: landing flareAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedDehavilland DHC-6-300: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,285 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · CopilotDehavilland DHC-6-300: 4 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Action: delayed actionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · PilotDehavilland DHC-6-300: 2 casesAll aircraft: 894 casesProbable cause
Wind: windshearEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationDehavilland DHC-6-300: 1 caseAll aircraft: 90 cases
Object/animal/substance: ground vehicleEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcomeDehavilland DHC-6-300: 1 caseAll aircraft: 132 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 pilot of the twin-engine, turbine-powered airplane reported that, while providing flights for skydivers throughout the day, he had a potential new hire pilot flying with him in the right seat. He added that, on the eighth flight of the day, the new pilot was flying during the approach and "approximately 200' [ft.] south from the threshold of [runway] 15 at approximately 15 feet AGL [above ground level] the bottom violently and unexpectedly dropped out. [He] believe[d] some kind of wind shear caused the aircraft [to] slam onto [the] runway and bounce into the air at a 45 to 60-degree bank angle to the right." The prospective pilot then said, "you got it." The pilot took control of the airplane and initiated a go-around by increasing power, which aggravated the "off runway heading." The right wing contacted the ground, the airplane exited the runway to the right and impacted a fuel truck, and the right wing separated from the airplane. The impact caused the pilot to unintentionally add max power, and the airplane, with only the left engine functioning, ground looped to the right, coming to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system about 8 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 280° at 7 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 20,000 ft agl, temperature 86°F, dew point 45°F, and altimeter 29.81 inches of mercury. The pilot landed on runway 15.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the twin-engine, turbine powered airplane reported that while providing flights for skydivers throughout the day, he had a potential new hire pilot flying with him in the right seat. He added that on the eighth flight of the day, the new pilot was flying during the approach and "approximately 200' [ft.] south from the threshold of [runway] 15 at approximately 15 feet AGL [above ground level] the bottom violently and unexpectedly dropped out. [He] believe[d] some kind of wind shear caused the aircraft [to] slam onto [the] runway and bounce into the air at a 45 to 60-degree bank angle to the right." The new pilot then said, "you got it". The pilot took the control and initiated a go around by increasing power which aggravated the "off runway heading". The right wing contacted the ground, the airplane exited the runway to the right, impacted a fuel truck and the right-wing separated from the airplane. The impact caused the pilot to unintentionally add max power and the airplane, with only the left engine functioning ground looped to the right, coming to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system about 8 nautical miles from the accident site, about the time of the accident, reported the wind from 280° at 7 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 20,000 ft. AGL, temperature 86°F, dew point 45°F, and altimeter 29.81 in Hg. The pilot landed on runway 15.

Aircraft

Registration
N708PV
Reported as
Dehavilland DHC 6 (300)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
489
Built
1976
Airframe hours
37,885.7
Engines
Pratt & Whitney PT6A-27, 620 horsepower, turbo propPratt & Whitney PT6A-27, 620 horsepower, turbo prop
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Skydiving · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · May 1, 2017
Departed
L65 · Perris, CA
Destination
L65 · Perris, CA
Airport
L65 · Perris Valley, runway 15, 5,100 × 50 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Stall warning system, ADS-B

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 · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
56
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Flight engineer
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
January 23, 2017
Seat
Left
Restraint
Lap only
Flight hours
3,358 total · 2,131 in this make and model · 3,198 as pilot in command · 31 in the last 90 days · 27 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Role
Co-pilot
Age
31
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
March 15, 2016
Seat
Right
Restraint
Lap only
Flight hours
1,893 total · 12 in this make and model · 1,725 as pilot in command · 26 in the last 90 days · 24 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
280° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
86 °F, dew point 45 °F
Altimeter
29.80 inHg
Observed at
KRIV, 8 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 17, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 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.