# NTSB GAA19CA006: Zenair CH 2000, N642AM, Topeka, KS, October 6, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 5, 2018, 20:45 local (Oct 6, 2018, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Topeka, KS - Coordinates: 39.068889, -95.622497 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0689&lon=-95.6225&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 September 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98427 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98427/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98427 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA006 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and a subsequent runway excursion. ## 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: [Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 2000, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0033001), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 2000, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0033001), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 2000, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0033001), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 2000, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=0033001), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 2000, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0033001), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 2000, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=0033001), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 2000, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0033001), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, following his first solo flight in the recently acquired airplane, during landing, the airplane crossed the runway threshold about 70 knots airspeed with full flaps, and he placed the throttle in the idle position. During the landing flare, the airplane sank abruptly and touched down hard. The airplane bounced and exited the left side of the runway. The pilot attempted to go around, but the airplane descended and impacted the grass safety area on the left side of the runway. The nose landing gear separated from the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right fuselage formers. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that following his first solo flight in the recently acquired airplane, during landing he crossed the runway threshold about 70 knots airspeed and with full flaps, he placed the throttle in the idle position. During the flare, the airplane sank abruptly and touched down hard. The airplane bounced and exited the left side of the runway. The pilot attempted to go-around, but the airplane descended and impacted the grass safety area on the left side of the runway. The nose landing gear separated from the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to right fuselage formers. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N642AM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N642AM-2020-01-03), registration cancelled 2020-01-03, S/N 20-0053, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Zenair CH 2000 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 2000](https://openairdocs.org/model/aircraft-mfg-development-ch-2000) (registry code 0033001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20-0053 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 1866.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-N2C 116 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: None - Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 2018 - Departed: LWC, Lawrence, KS - Destination: TOP, Topeka, KS - Airport: TOP, Philip Billard Muni, runway 18, 4,331 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 16, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 222 total, 3 in this make and model, 159 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 170° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: KTOP ## 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 20181005016719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181005016719A), Oct 5, 2018: Aircraft Mfg & Development Co CH 2000, Topeka, KS, Substantial damage. Pilot statement: On Friday, October 5, 2018 at approximately 2310Z I took off from runway 18 at ktop (Topeka Billard) in CH2000 alarus N642AM. This was my… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98427. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472286&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472287&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. --- 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.