# NTSB MIA00LA192: Europa Europa XS TRI-GEAR, N912EA, Lakeland, FL, June 28, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 28, 2000, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Lakeland, FL - Coordinates: 27.979818, -82.009689 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9798&lon=-82.0097&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49555 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA192 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49555/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA192 ## Probable cause the flight instructor's inadequate supervision that resulted in the dual student performing an improper landing flare/touchdown which resulted in a hard landing and overload to the nose landing gear assembly. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - flare - improper, dual student (cause) - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload ## Analysis The flight instructor stated he and the student were performing touch-and-go landings, and the student was flying the airplane. The instructor further stated that during a touch-and-go landing, immediately on touchdown, a loud bang was heard and felt, and both he and the student observed a white object depart the right side of the aircraft. The instructor said he applied power, executing a go-around, and then verified that the nose gear was missing from the aircraft. The instructor said that they then proceeded to Lakeland airport to land, and while landing the nose strut appeared to give way, and the aircraft settled on its nose. A metallurgical examination of the damaged nose landing gear assembly by the National Transportation Safety Board's Materials Laboratory revealed that all fractures were typical of an overstress condition. ## Factual narrative On June 28, 2000, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Europa XS Tri-gear, N912EA, registered to Europa Aviation Inc., and operated as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, landed with a missing nose gear at Lakeland, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The experimental aircraft incurred substantial damage, and the commercial-rated flight instructor and dual student were not injured. The flight originated in Zephyrhills, Florida, the same day, about 1210. The flight instructor stated he and the student were performing touch-and-go landings at Zephyrhills, Florida, and the student was flying the airplane. The instructor further stated that immediately on touchdown a loud bang was heard and felt, and both he and the student observed a white object depart to the right side of the aircraft, and he assumed it was a portion of the nose gear, so he applied power to perform a go-around. The instructor said that after a second approach and a look at the object, they both knew it was the wheel pant (fairing), and they assumed that the wheel was in it. He stated that he was unable to reach anyone on Zephyrhills Unicom, so they flew by the Plant City airport, and confirmed that the nose wheel was missing. He stated they then contacted Lakeland tower, and advised them of the problem, and Lakeland airport proceeded to prepare for their arrival. According to the flight instructor, during the landing he held the nose wheel off as long as possible, but upon settling, the nose strut appeared to give way, and the aircraft settled on its nose. The separated nose gear side strut assembly was retained, and sent to the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory in Washington, D. C. for metallurgical examination. The examination revealed that all fractures were typical of an overstress condition, and the pieces of the damaged landing gear assembly did not reveal the presence of dark discolored regions that are usually associated with preexisting cracking. Magnified examinations (up to 15X) showed no evidence of excessive porosity, large inclusions, weld bead buildup, or any other metallurgical or welding defects. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N912EA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N912EA-2017-04-18), registration cancelled 2017-04-18, S/N EA003XS, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Europa Aviation Inc EUROPA XS TRI-GEAR (EUROPA XS) - Registry model: [Europa EUROPA XS TRI-GEAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/europa-europa-xs-tri-gear) (registry code 05607JV) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: EA003XS - Airframe hours: 40 - Engines: Rotax 912S 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Europa Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, April 9, 2000, 40 hours before - Departed: ZPH, ZEPHYRHILLS, FL - Destination: LAL - Airport: LAL, Lakeland Linder Regional, runway 23, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 13,000 total, 120 in this make and model, 11,000 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LAL ## 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 20000628041669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000628041669A), Jun 28, 2000: Amtr EUROPAXS, Lakeland, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Crew was performing touch and go's at zephyrhills airport, Florida. During the first take off, the nose wheel exited the aircraft. Pilot in command… 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.