# NTSB GAA19CA329: Ercoupe 415, N3667H, Lafayette, IN, June 7, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 6, 2019, 20:30 local (Jun 7, 2019, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Lafayette, IN - Coordinates: 40.412223, -86.936943 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4122&lon=-86.9369&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99597 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA329 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99597/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99597 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA329 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to maintain pitch control and his improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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: [Ercoupe 415-C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0420322), [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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that he was going to demonstrate a simulated engine failure on takeoff for the student pilot. After climbing the airplane several hundred feet, he reduced the engine power to idle and pitched the airplane to maintain best glide speed. He applied back pressure to the yoke during the landing flare and realized the airplane was going to land harder than desired. The airplane landed hard on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that he was going to demonstrate a simulated engine failure on takeoff for a student pilot. After climbing several hundred feet, he reduced the engine power to idle and pitched the airplane to maintain best glide speed. He applied back pressure to the yoke during the landing flare and realized they were going to land harder than desired. The airplane touched down hard on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3667H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3667H-2021-01-09), registration cancelled 2021-01-09, S/N 4292, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe 415 (C) - Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420322) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4292 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 3206.7 - Engines: Continental A-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Able Flight Inc - Registered owner: Able Flight Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 2019 - Departed: LAF, Lafayette, IN - Destination: LAF, Lafayette, IN - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: LAF, Purdue University, runway 10, 6,600 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 22; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 300 total, 30 in this make and model, 220 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KLAF ## 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 20190606005989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190606005989A), Jun 6, 2019: Ercoupe 415-C, West Lafayette, IN, Substantial damage. Description: On June 6, 2019 at approximately 8:30PM eastern standard time, an Ercoupe 415C, N3667H, serial number 4292 aircraft , sustained substantial damage… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 24, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99597. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 835 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474479&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - CFI and Student Pilot Statements (item 2, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474480&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CFI%20and%20Student%20Pilot%20Statements-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 3 photos, 295 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474481&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.