GAA18CA380

NTSB accident investigation · Jabiru J250 · Ferndale, WA · June 18, 2018

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 18, 2018, 14:20 local (21:20 UTC)
Place
Ferndale, WA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N722BLJabiru J250
Defining event
Landing: Hard landing
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 5, 2019
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20180618005109A
Case key
97612

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 pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s lack of experience and training in the accident airplane make and model.

Findings · 4

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/maintainedJabiru USA Sport J250-SP: 2 casesAll aircraft: 1,285 casesProbable cause
Training: training with equipmentPersonnel issues › Experience/knowledge · PilotJabiru USA Sport J250-SP: 1 caseAll aircraft: 32 casesProbable cause

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 reported that, after accepting delivery of his recently purchased airplane, he requested the ferry pilot to "show [him] how to operate the aircraft." During his second approach, he felt that the airplane was low and slow and asked the ferry pilot if he should add power; the ferry pilot responded, "you’re fine." Shortly after, the airplane landed hard on the runway, the nosewheel and right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He added that, before the accident flight, he did not have any experience flying the accident airplane. The ferry pilot stated that he agreed to only be a passenger and not act as a flight instructor. He added that the airplane was configured for only a left seat pilot.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that after accepting delivery of his recently purchased airplane, he requested the ferry pilot to "show me how to operate the aircraft." During his second approach, he felt that he was low and slow and asked the ferry pilot if he should add power; he received a verbal response, "your fine." Shortly after, the aircraft landed hard on the runway, collapsed the nose wheel and right main landing gear and the right wing struck the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He added that prior to the accident flight, he does not have any experience flying the accident airplane. The ferry pilot stated that he agreed to only be a passenger and not act as a certified flight instructor. He added that the airplane was configured for only a left seated pilot.

Aircraft

Registration
N722BL
Reported as
Jabiru J250 (SP)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
379
Built
2007
Airframe hours
191
Engine
Jabiru 3300A, 120 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · December 17, 2017
Departed
WN35 · Ferndale, WA
Destination
WN35 · Ferndale, WA
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
WN35 · Meadow Mist, runway 15, 2,000 × 80 ft
Equipment
Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS

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

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
93
Injuries
None
Certificates
Private, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
March 1, 2018
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
5,500 total · 0 in this make and model · 10 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
170° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
81 °F, dew point 57 °F
Altimeter
29.90 inHg
Observed at
KBLI, 7 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 5, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.0 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.