# NTSB IAD05LA073: de Havilland DHC-6, N3434, Rittman, OH, June 4, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 4, 2005, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Rittman, OH - Coordinates: 40.941387, -81.797775 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9414&lon=-81.7978&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61631 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD05LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61631/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05LA073 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a stall and subsequent impact with the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The purpose of the flight was for the second pilot to perform an evaluation of the first pilot, who was recently designated by the operator as a backup pilot. Following several successful flights with and without passengers, the pilots discussed single engine operations, and the first pilot reduced the right engine's power to flight idle and feathered the propeller. During the final leg of the approach to landing, the airplane crossed over a fence near the runway threshold, and the first pilot pitched the airplane downward. The nose landing gear contacted the runway "hard," and the airplane began to bounce. After several bounces, the first pilot elected to abort the landing, increased power on the left engine to "full." As the first pilot pitched the airplane upward, it yawed to the right, "stalled," and impacted the ground. ## Factual narrative On June 4, 2005, at 1830 eastern daylight time, a de Havilland DHC-6, N3434, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain following an aborted landing at Hilty Field (OI68), Rittman, Ohio. The certificated airline transport pilot received serious injuries, and the second pilot, also a certificated airline transport pilot, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local parachuting flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. During a telephone interview, the second pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to perform an evaluation of the first pilot, who was recently designated by the operator as a backup pilot. The pilots initially departed and performed three takeoff and landings, with the first pilot in the right seat, and no parachutists onboard the airplane. They then embarked passengers, and performed several parachuting flights. The pilots then decided that the first pilot would transition to the left seat. Two additional parachuting flights followed uneventfully. Following the passenger drop on the third flight, the pilots discussed single engine operations. The first pilot subsequently reduced the right engine's power to flight idle, and feathered the propeller. During the final leg of the approach to landing, the airplane crossed over a fence near the runway threshold, and the first pilot pitched the airplane downward. The nose landing gear then contacted the runway "hard," and the airplane began to bounce. After two bounces, the first pilot increased power on the left engine to "full," and pitched the airplane up. He then told the second pilot that he was going to abort the landing, and to reduce the flap setting to 10 degrees. The airplane continued to pitch up, yawed to the right, and "stalled" at an attitude about 25 feet above ground level. According to a written statement submitted by the first pilot, following several previous flights, the decision was made to demonstrate single engine operations. He performed a practice single engine approach, and missed approach, between 3,000 and 4,000 feet. The pilot then performed an actual single engine approach to landing. During the entire approach, nothing unusual was noted. During the touchdown, "a slight bounce was encountered." The pilot judged that the groundspeed was too fast in order to land within the remaining runway, and elected to abort the landing. He added full power and initiated a climb, "at which time the aircraft slid off to the right which resulted in a loss of directional control." The owner/operator of the airplane witnessed the accident, and described what he had seen during a telephone interview. He viewed the airplane as it was on the final leg of the approach, and described that approach as being "a little long, and a little fast." The airplane then contacted the runway, and bounced three times, with the nose landing gear contacting the runway first, followed by the main landing gear. The airplane's pitch angle then increased, and the airplane "looked like it stalled." It then rolled to the right, and the right wing contacted the ground. Another individual witnessed the accident, and provided a written statement. The witness was driving on a highway adjacent to the airport, when he saw the airplane "coming down very fast." The landing gear contacted the ground, and the airplane bounced back into the air, then turned right. As the airplane was turning, it again began to descend, the right wing contacted the ground, and separated from the airplane. When asked, the witness stated that the airplane initially touched down about 100 yards from the runway end. The wreckage was examined at the scene by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors, and no anomalies were noted with the airframe, or either engine. The first pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with a rating for airplane multiengine land, and a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. His most recent first class FAA medical certificate was issued on May 5, 2004. On that date he reported 10,154 total hours of flight experience. The second pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with a rating for airplane multiengine land, and a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. His most recent second class FAA medical certificate was issued on July 12, 2004. On that date he reported 6,882 total hours of flight experience. The weather reported at Akron-Canton Regional Airport (CAK), Akron, Ohio, at 1851, included winds from 170 degrees at 6 knots, few clouds at 4,000 feet, temperature 79 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 62 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.94 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3434](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3434-2018-03-13), registration cancelled 2018-03-13, S/N 193 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-6 - Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-6-twin-otter) (registry code 2802606) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 193 - Airframe hours: 33058.7 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Skydiving, Part 91 - Registered owner: Aerohio Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 1, 2005, 88.5 hours before - Departed: OI68, Hilty Field, OH - Destination: OI68, Hilty Field, OH - Airport: OI68, Hilty Field, runway 18, 3,000 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 10,420 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 9,000 as pilot in command - Co-pilot; age 49; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 7,400 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: CAK, 16 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 20050604012369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050604012369A), Jun 4, 2005: Dhav DHC6300, Rittman, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot #2 was "checking out" pilot #1, they picked up some parachutist and came back down got another load and dropped them off also. On the approach to… ## Other investigations on N3434 (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI85LA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85LA151), Apr 3, 1985: de Havilland DHC-6-200 (N3434), Grand Rapids, MI, substantial damage 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.