# NTSB LAX08LA236: Aero SP Z O O AT-4 LSA, N706GB, Hemet, CA, July 20, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 20, 2008, 07:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Hemet, CA - Coordinates: 33.734443, -117.02639 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7344&lon=-117.0264&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68492 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08LA236 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68492/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68492 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA236 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare and inadequate recovery from a bounced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero SP Z O O AT-4 LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=060004P), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero SP Z O O AT-4 LSA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=060004P), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero SP Z O O AT-4 LSA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=060004P), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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) (defining event); cases with it: [Aero SP Z O O AT-4 LSA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=060004P), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot had performed two landings prior to the accident without incident. The pilot noted that while on final approach for the accident landing there was a stronger than expected headwind and he had to add power to compensate. He then reduced the power to idle in preparation for landing. He leveled the airplane and applied back-pressure on the control stick and waited for the airplane to stall prior to touchdown. He said that at that point, the airplane seemed to "run out of air and dropped," landing hard on the runway. The airplane bounced, and began to porpoise down the runway. On the second bounce, the airplane yawed to the left and, as it impacted the runway again, the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded to the left of the runway before coming to a stop upright on the side of the runway. The pilot reported that there were no preexisting mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On July 20, 2008, at 0745 Pacific daylight time, a Special - Light Sport Aircraft (S-LSA) Aero SP Z O O AT-4, N706GB, landed hard and porpoised down runway 23, collapsing the nose landing gear, at Hemet-Ryan Airport, Hemet, California. Hemet Flight Center, LLC, operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, as an instructional flight. The LSA student, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained structural damage to the firewall during the landing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight in the traffic pattern, and no flight plan had been filed. According to the student pilot, he had made two uneventful landings prior to the accident landing. On the accident landing he reduced the power to idle, added 15 degrees of flaps, and noted an airspeed of 60 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS). He stated that he had to increase the engine revolutions per minute (rpm) as the headwind was stronger than he had originally anticipated. However, he reduced the engine rpm's to idle before "descending onto the runway." The pilot reported an airspeed of 45-40 KIAS, as he leveled the airplane, and eased the control stick back "for a stall." He reported that the airplane seemed to "run out of air and dropped." The airplane bounced twice. On the second bounce, the airplane bounced "unexpectedly high," and turned a few degrees to the left. After the second bounce the airplane had turned slightly and was now at an angle to the runway. As it touched down again, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane skidded towards the left of the runway and came to rest upright. The pilot further reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N706GB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N706GB-2019-08-07), registration cancelled 2019-08-07, S/N AT4-006, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aero SP Z O O (Gobosh) AT-4 LSA - Registry model: [Aero SP Z O O AT-4 LSA](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-sp-z-o-o-at-4-lsa) (registry code 060004P) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AT4-006 - Airframe hours: 124 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS2 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Hemet Flight Center, LLC - Registered owner: Wood Bee Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 18, 2008, 4 hours before - Departed: HMT, Hemet, CA - Destination: HMT, Hemet, CA - Airport: HMT, Hemet-Ryan Airport, runway 23, 4,314 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 56; injuries: none; student; medical: sport pilot, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 39 total, 10 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: RIV, 15 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 20080720841939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080720841939A), Jul 20, 2008: Aespzo AT4LSA, Hemet, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot was performing takeoff and landing practice. During the third landing the aircraft bounced following touch down and came down on the nose… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 21, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68492. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 880 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313537&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313538&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313539&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Form 8130-15, Light-Sport Aircraft Statement of Compliance (item 4, .PDF, 144 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313540&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Form%208130-15,%20Light-Sport%20Aircraft%20Statement%20of%20Compliance-Redacted.PDF - Aircraft Logbook (Excerpt) (item 5, .PDF, 251 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313541&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Logbook%20(Excerpt)-Redacted.PDF - Engine Logbook (Excerpt) (item 6, .PDF, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313542&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Logbook%20(Excerpt)-Redacted.PDF - Propeller Logbook (Excerpt) (item 7, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313543&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Propeller%20Logbook%20(Excerpt)-Redacted.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.