NYC94LA169

NTSB accident investigation · Donald E. Kovol Quickie 2 · Akron, OH · September 4, 1994

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 4, 1994, 19:05 local (23:05 UTC)
Place
Akron, OH
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N4327VDonald E. Kovol Quickie 2
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 2, 1994
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
38824

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadequate flare and a hard landing. A factor was the pilot's lack of experience in the airplane.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Hard landingLanding - flare/touchdown
Airspeed - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Lack of total experience in type of aircraftPilot in commandFactor
Flare - inadequatePilot in command
Landing gear,main gear strut - overload

Analysis

This was the initial test flight for the homebuilt airplane and the pilot's first flight in type. The pilot intended to lift off and then land straight ahead on the runway after 5 to 10 seconds of flight. The takeoff was uneventful. When the pilot reduced power to land, the airplane settled faster than the pilot expected. In a written report he said, 'too slow for landing - dropped onto runway approx 8 feet altitude.' The right canard/landing gear was fractured. The propeller contacted the runway.

Factual narrative

On September 4, 1994, at 1905 eastern daylight time, a Quickie 2, N4327V, owned and operated by Mr. Donald E. Kovol, of Stow, Ohio, made a hard landing at the Akron-Fulton County Airport, Akron, Ohio. The airplane received substantial damage and the pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91.

In a telephone interview, the pilot reported this was the initial test flight of the airplane. The plan was to become airborne, and then touchdown on the runway after 5 to 10 seconds of flight. The airplane became airborne on runway 25 without incident, however, when he retarded the power to land, the airplane settled faster than he expected. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot said, "... Too slow for landing - dropped onto runway from approx 8 feet altitude." The right canard/landing gear was fractured, and the propeller contacted the runway. The airplane stopped on the runway. The pilot reported the winds as 4 knots and straight down the runway.

In the NTSB Accident Report From, the private pilot reported his total time as 96 hours with no time in the Quickie 2. He had 6 hours in the preceding 90 days, all in a Cessna 172. He had ground taxied the airplane for 14 hours.

Aircraft

Registration
N4327V
Reported as
Donald E. Kovol Quickie 2
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
2282
Engine
Revmaster 2100D, 64 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 91
Registered owner
Donald E. Koval
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Airport
AKR · Akron-Fulton Co. Arpt, runway 7, 5,998 × 150 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
48
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
96 total · 96 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
50° at 9 knots
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
25,000 ft broken
Temperature
68 °F, dew point 48 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
CA, 7 nm away