# NTSB GAA18CA077: Czech Sport Aircraft a.s. Sport Cruiser, N227US, Sacramento, CA, December 9, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 9, 2017, 13:40 local (21:40 UTC)
- Place: Sacramento, CA
- Coordinates: 38.5125, -121.493331 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5125&lon=-121.4933&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 5, 2018
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 96460
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96460/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96460
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA077

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to securely lock the canopy before takeoff.

## 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0600066), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Doors: passenger/crew doors](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md?model=0600066), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=0600066), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=0600066), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=0600066), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0600066), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=0600066), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=0600066), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, during the initial climb, he realized that the canopy was not latched properly and had opened. The pilot attempted to secure the canopy, but he was unsuccessful. He decided to terminate the flight and land; however, his airspeed was too fast during the touchdown and the airplane landed hard. The landing gear collapsed, and the airplane slid across the runway. The pilot reported that when the airplane came to rest, he saw that a fuel line had ruptured, and he immediately exited the airplane. The airplane caught fire and was extinguished by first responders. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that this accident could have been prevented if he had checked the canopy after he latched it and noticed the latch didn't catch.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, during the initial climb, he realized that the canopy was not latched properly and had opened in flight. The pilot attempted to secure the canopy, but he was unsuccessful. He decided to terminate the flight and land; however, his airspeed was too fast during the touchdown and the airplane landed hard. The landing gear collapsed, and the airplane slid across the runway. The pilot reported that when the airplane came to rest, he saw that a fuel line had ruptured, and he immediately exited the airplane. The airplane caught fire and was extinguished by first responders. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. According to the National Transportation Safety Board's Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot annotated in the Owner Safety Recommendation section, that this accident could have been prevented, "If I manually checked the canopy after I latched it I would have discovered the latch did not catch."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N227US](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N227US-2018-02-23), registration cancelled 2018-02-23, S/N P1102027, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Czech Sport Aircraft a.s. Sport Cruiser
- Registry model: [Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER](https://openairdocs.org/model/czech-sport-aircraft-a-s-sportcruiser) (registry code 0600066) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P1102027
- Year built: 2011
- Airframe hours: 297.8
- Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 24, 2017
- Departed: SAC, Sacramento, CA
- Destination: SAC, Sacramento, CA
- Airport: SAC, Sacramento Executive, runway 20, 5,503 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review November 2, 2017; seat: left; flight hours: 569.7 total, 15.8 in this make and model, 319.1 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observed at: KSAC

## 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 20171209022899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171209022899A), Dec 9, 2017: Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER, Sacramento, CA, Destroyed. After rotation, as aircraft was climbing the canopy opened. Pilot made an emergency landing on the same runway as just departed. At least one of the landing…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 8, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96460. 4.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463038&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Photo (item 2, .PDF, 168 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463039&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.

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