# NTSB GAA19CA379: Cirrus SR22, N727HG, Grotten, CT, June 21, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 21, 2019, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Grotten, CT - Coordinates: 41.597339, -72.755081 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5973&lon=-72.7551&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99739 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA379 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99739/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99739 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA379 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare and failure to maintain pitch control, which resulted in a porpoised 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: [Cirrus Design SR22, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2130001), [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: [Cirrus Design SR22, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2130001), [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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 94 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2130001), [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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while landing with gusting winds, the airplane porpoised on touchdown, so he chose to go around and "shoot the approach again." During the second landing, the airplane porpoised on touchdown. The pilot regained control of the airplane and taxied to the ramp without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 26 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 360° at 5 knots. The pilot reported that the wind was from 020° at 8 knots, gusting to 14 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane on runway 5. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, while landing in gusting winds, the airplane porpoised on touchdown. The pilot chose to go-around and "shoot the approach again." During the second landing, the airplane porpoised on touchdown. The pilot regained control of the airplane and taxied to the ramp without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 26 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 360° at 5 knots. The pilot reported that the wind was from 020° at 8 knots, gusting to 14 knots. The airplane was landing on runway 5. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N727HG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N727HG), registered now, S/N 4489, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cirrus SR22 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22) (registry code 2130001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550-N](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-n) (registry code 17215, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4489 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 882.9 - Engines: Continental IO 550K 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Performance Flight - Registered owner: Hannibal Aviation Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 18, 2019 - Departed: HPN, White Plains, NY - Destination: GON, Grotten, CT - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: GON, Groton-New London, runway 05, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Airframe parachute, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 26, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 180 total, 80 in this make and model, 104 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.52 inHg - Observed at: KGON ## 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 20190621007699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190621007699A), Jun 21, 2019: Cirrus Design Corp SR22, Groton, CT, Substantial damage. On June 21, 2019 at approximately 11:29 a.m. (eastern time), aircraft N727HG was involved in an accident at Groton-New London Airport (gon) located in Groton,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99739. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 834 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474995&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (operator) (item 2, .PDF, 566 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474996&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(operator)-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 216 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474997&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.