# NTSB MIA08LA205: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA42, N482TS, Lancaster, PA, September 28, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 28, 2008, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, PA - Coordinates: 40.121665, -76.296112 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1217&lon=-76.2961&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 11, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 69050 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08LA205 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69050/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08LA205 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in the accident airplane make and model. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 42, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=2990104), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail gear attach section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 42, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221/cases.md?model=2990104), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221/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: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 42, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2990104), [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: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 42, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2990104), [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-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 42, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2990104), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was making his first flight in the accident airplane make and model. During the landing the airplane bounced, floated, and landed again. The nose gear collapsed and the airplane came to a stop on the runway. He added that the landing was not rough or hard. Inspection of the airplane revealed evidence of a hard landing; the left main landing gear was twisted and the gear strut had bottomed out. The nose gear was in the extended position; however it was forced up through the top of the gear well, damaging the surrounding structure. The wind at the accident airport, about the time of the accident, was 330 degrees at 4 knots. ## Factual narrative On September 28, 2008, about 1800 eastern daylight time, a Diamond DA42, N482TS, was substantially damaged during landing at the Lancaster Airport (LNS), Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The airplane was owned and operated by Onyx Acquisitions, LLC of Leesburg, Virginia. The certificated commercial pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the positioning flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The flight originated at Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO), Leesburg, Virginia, at 1700. The airplane was being ferried to Lancaster for an annual inspection. Both pilots were flight instructors for AV-ED Flight School; the pilot in the right seat reported that he was receiving a checkout from the pilot in the left seat. The pilot in the right seat reported that this was his first flight in a DA 42, and he was at the controls during the entire accident flight. Both pilots reported that the en route portion of the flight was normal and "three green" indications were observed after lowering the landing gear on approach to Lancaster. The flying pilot reported the airplane "hopped off the ground" after the initial touchdown, and then settled on the main gear. As he lowered the nose to the runway, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane came to a stop approximately 1,000 feet from touchdown. The flying pilot reported that the landing was not "hard." An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) interviewed the Director of Operations at AV ED Flight School on October 29, 2008. The Director of Operations reported that the non-flying pilot informed him that the airplane was flared too soon and "stopped flying" about 10 to 15 feet above the runway. The airplane subsequently "made a hard landing which caused substantial damage to the aircraft." The non-flying pilot was interviewed by the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on April 7, 2009. He reported that after the initial touchdown, the airplane "floated" before touching down again. He stated that the DA42 rarely bounces and this was uncharacteristic of the airplane. He did not consider the landing "hard." When asked if the nose gear could have touched down first, he replied "no," however the airplane did touch down in a "flat" attitude. Following the accident, the airplane was examined by an engineer from Diamond Aircraft Corporation as part of a repair assessment. The examination revealed that the nose gear assembly had breached the top of the wheel well substantially damaging the surrounding structure. In addition, during the assessment, a laser line was positioned on each main gear strut to determine the position of the main gear trailing arms. When the left and right hand trailing arms were compared, the left hand trailing arm was twisted approximately 10 degrees. The corresponding wheel/tire was toed out and had a negative camber. There was no wear patterns on theleft tire identified that could be associated with prolonged operation in this condition. A small nick was found on the left-hand trailing arm, indicating that the dampener bottomed out and the trailing arm had made contact with the left main strut. The flying pilot possessed commercial and flight instructor certificates with airplane single- and multi-engine land ratings. He reported 741 hours total flight time, including 154 hours of multi-engine time. He reported no flight time in the DA42 prior to the accident flight. The non-flying pilot possessed commercial and flight instructor certificates with airplane single- and multi-engine land ratings. He reported 1,070 hours total flight time, including 230 hours of multi-engine time. He reported 70 hours of flight time in the DA42 at the time of the accident. The 1753 weather observation for LNS included the following: surface winds from 330 degrees at 4 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, an overcast ceiling at 4,600 feet, temperature 68 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 64 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.89 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N482TS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N482TS), registered now, S/N 42.AC082, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA42 - Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 42](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da-42) (registry code 2990104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Thielert TAE-125-02-99](https://openairdocs.org/engine/thielert-tae-125-02-99) (registry code 59302, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 42.AC082 - Airframe hours: 229 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Onyx Acquisitions LLC - Registered owner: Onyx Acquisitions LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 12, 2007 - Departed: JYO, Leesburg, VA - Destination: LNS, Lancaster, PA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: LNS, Lancaster Airport, runway 31, 4,102 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 14, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 741 total, 1 in this make and model, 619 as pilot in command, 114 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 33; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 11, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 1,070 total, 70 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,600 ft overcast - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KLNS ## 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 20080928853199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080928853199A), Sep 28, 2008: Diamon DA42, Lancaster, PA, Substantial damage. Pilot reported cockpit indications were normal. The pilot stated that the nose gear collapsed on landing rollout. Post accident investigation revealed the left… 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.