# NTSB GAA18CA258: Berger Bernard M Pulsar Series III, N914BB, Palmyra, PA, May 3, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 3, 2018, 15:56 local (19:56 UTC) - Place: Palmyra, PA - Coordinates: 40.287776, -76.580001 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2878&lon=-76.5800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97188 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA258 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97188/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97188 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA258 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate approach speed, which resulted in a bounced landing and a runway overrun. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Berger Bernard M PULSAR SERIES III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05614VM), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Berger Bernard M PULSAR SERIES III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05614VM), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Fluids: oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Related operating info; cases with it: [Berger Bernard M PULSAR SERIES III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md?model=05614VM), [All aircraft, 174 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Berger Bernard M PULSAR SERIES III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05614VM), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Berger Bernard M PULSAR SERIES III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05614VM), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Berger Bernard M PULSAR SERIES III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05614VM), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Berger Bernard M PULSAR SERIES III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05614VM), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Berger Bernard M PULSAR SERIES III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05614VM), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the preflight inspection, he observed no discrepancies and noted that the oil level was "inside the lower bound of normal oil capacity." He reported that en route, the oil pressure "was in the 30s [pounds per square inch] and trending downward" but still within the normal engine oil pressure limits. He decided to divert to a nearby airport as a precaution. The pilot reported that, while maneuvering to the alternate airport, the engine instruments appeared normal. However, during left base for the runway, he observed "a few seconds of white smoke" coming from the engine over the left wing. He reduced power, added flaps, and noticed that the airplane's approach speed was too fast. He decided he would not attempt a go-around due to the smoke and shut the engine off "thinking of the possibility of an engine fire." Subsequently, the airplane bounced during the initial touchdown and landed near the runway's halfway point. The pilot applied brakes, but the airplane overran the runway into a dirt field, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during the preflight, he observed no discrepancies and noted that the oil level was "inside the lower bound of normal oil capacity". He reported that en route, the oil pressure "was in the 30's (psi) and trending downward", but still within the normal engine oil pressure limits. He decided to divert to a nearby airport as a precaution. The pilot reported that, while maneuvering to the alternate airport, the engine instruments appeared normal. However, during left base for the runway, he observed "a few seconds of white smoke" coming from the engine over the left wing. He reduced power, added flaps, and noticed that his approach speed was too fast. He decided he would not attempt a go around due to the smoke and shut the engine off "thinking of the possibility of an engine fire". Subsequently, the airplane bounced during the initial touch down, and landed near the halfway point of the runway. The pilot applied brakes, but the airplane overran the runway into a dirt field, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N914BB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N914BB), registered now, S/N P9802-0550, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BERGER BERNARD M PULSAR SERIES III (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Berger Bernard M PULSAR SERIES III](https://openairdocs.org/model/berger-bernard-m-pulsar-series-iii) (registry code 05614VM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: P9802-0550 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 771.6 - Engines: Rotax 914UL 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 9, 2017 - Departed: N94, CARLISLE, PA - Destination: N94, CARLISLE, PA - Airport: 58N, Reigle Field, runway 31, 1,955 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial, military, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 29, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,413.5 total, 91 in this make and model, 790.2 as pilot in command, 7.8 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 13 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KMUI, 9 nm away ## 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 20180503004519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180503004519A), May 3, 2018: Berger Bernard M PULSAR SERIES III, Palmyra, PA, Substantial damage. PIC departed 8N1 at 15:39L enroute to N94. Approx 3 miles north of 58N, PIC noticed a decrease in oil pressure and requested a precautionary landing at 58N. On… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 7, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97188. 5.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465714&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 183 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465715&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.