# NTSB NYC83FU012: Robertson Bird, Milan, NH, September 25, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: September 25, 1983, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Milan, NH
- Location: 44.5754° N, 71.1759° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BERLIN RGNL (BML), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5754&lon=-71.1759&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35135
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC83FU012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35135/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83FU012

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE HAD JUST PURCHASED THE ULTRALIGHT ON THE PREVIOUS DAY & HAD NO PREVIOUS TRAINING IN ULTRALIGHTS. ON HIS 2ND FLT IN THE VEHICLE, HE LANDED HARD, THE TUBULAR STRUCTURE TO THE RIGHT GEAR COLLAPSED & THE LOWER SEAT SUPPORT CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE VERTICAL LOAD WAS TRANSMITTED TO THE PLT'S SEAT & THE PLT RECEIVED A SERIOUS SPINAL INJURY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBERTSON BIRD
- Category: Ultralight
- Airframe hours: 12
- Engines: CUYUNA 430-R 30 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 103
- Registered owner: Lee J. Coulombe
- Airport: BML, Berlin Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 500 total, 2 in this make and model, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

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.

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