# NTSB GAA17CA577: Flight Design Ctls, N547CT, Newport, RI, September 2, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 2, 2017, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Newport, RI - Coordinates: 41.533054, -71.279724 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5331&lon=-71.2797&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 February 21, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96344 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA577 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96344/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96344 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA577 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: updraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034030/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034030/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: [Flight Design CTLS, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, during the landing flare, he "felt an updraft," and the airplane landed hard. The airplane bounced, the nose landing gear (NLG) struck the ground, the airplane bounced again, and he then performed a go-around. The student entered the traffic pattern and landed without further incident. The student reported that, during the taxi to the ramp, the rudder pedals "felt funny." He added that, as he and the flight instructor put a cover over the airplane, he noticed the NLG "looked funny." He asked a local mechanic to examine the airplane and then decided to send the airplane to a repair station to be repaired. During the airplane repair, it was revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that, about 30 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 180° at 8 knots. The same weather observation station reported that, about 23 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 190° at 5 knots. The airplane landed on runway 22. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that, during the landing flare, he "felt an updraft" and the airplane landed hard. The airplane bounced, the nose landing gear struck the ground, bounced again, and the he performed a go-around. The student entered the traffic pattern and landed without further incident. The student reported that, during the taxi to the ramp, the rudder pedals "felt funny". He added that, as he and the flight instructor put a cover over the airplane, he noticed the nose landing gear "looked funny". He requested a local mechanic examine the airplane, and then decided to send the airplane to a repair station to be repaired. During the airplane repair, it was revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 30 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 180° at 8 knots. The same weather observation station reported that, about 23 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 190° at 5 knots. The airplane landed on runway 22. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N547CT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N547CT-2019-04-22), registration cancelled 2019-04-22, S/N 08-01-18, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTLS (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Flight Design CTLS](https://openairdocs.org/model/flight-design-ctls) (registry code 060005B) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 08-01-18 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 456 - Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 14, 2017 - Departed: UUU, Newport, RI - Destination: UUU, Newport, RI - Airport: UUU, Newport State, runway 22, 2,999 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 68; injuries: none; student; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 140 total, 130 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KUUU ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96344. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458858&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Student Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458859&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Student%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Logbook Entry (item 3, .PDF, 209 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458860&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Logbook%20Entry-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.