SEA03LA003

NTSB accident investigation · Mooney M20K · Rexburg, ID · October 12, 2002

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 12, 2002, 12:55 local (18:55 UTC)
Place
Rexburg, ID
Injuries
4 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N231EHMooney M20K
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 8, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Salt Lake FSDO
FAA report
20021012028169A
Case key
55893

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

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to perform a go-around once it became evident that his remedial action was not adequate to overcome the porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation that occurred during the landing flare. Factors include the pilot's inadvertent repeated ballooning/porpoising during the landing sequence, and a fence and line of trees off the departure end of the runway.

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.

On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertentPilot in commandFactor
Remedial action - inadequatePilot in commandFactor
Go-around - not performedPilot in commandCause
Object - fenceFactor
Object - tree(s)Factor

Analysis

The pilot entered a left downwind for Runway 17 with the intention of making a full stop landing on the 4,200 foot strip. He reportedly touched down on the runway numbers, but inadvertently allowed the aircraft to balloon back into the air. After a few seconds, the aircraft touched down a second time, but then ballooned even higher. According to the pilot, when the aircraft touched down the third time, he "...added some power to stay on the ground." This resulted in the aircraft lifting off the runway for a third time. After the aircraft settled on the surface for the fourth and final time, the pilot concluded that he would not be able to stop before reaching the fence located just off the south end of the runway. At that point he decided to add full power in an attempt to clear the fence and complete the landing roll in the area beyond it. Although he got the aircraft off the ground, the landing gear caught on the fence and pulled the aircraft to the ground. Soon thereafter, the left wing collided with a tree and the aircraft came to rest. According to the pilot, there was no evidence of any malfunction of the flight control system or the engine. He also stated that during the entire landing sequence, including during the time he attempted to "clear the fence," the wing flaps were in the fully deployed (down) position. In his narrative report, he also stated that he has now learned to execute a go-around if the wheels are not firmly planted by the time the aircraft reaches the second VASI (Visual Approach Slope Indicator).

Factual narrative

On October 12, 2002, approximately 1255 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20K, N231EH, impacted a fence during the landing roll at Madison County Airport, Rexburg, Idaho. The private pilot and his three passengers were not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by Air Bound, LLC., sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Driggs, Idaho, about 55 minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, he entered a left downwind for Runway 17 with the intention of making a full stop landing on the 4,200 foot strip. He reportedly touched down on the runway numbers, but inadvertently allowed the aircraft to balloon back into the air. After a few seconds, the aircraft touched down a second time, but then ballooned even higher. According to the pilot, when the aircraft touched down the third time, he "...added some power to stay on the ground." This resulted in the aircraft lifting off the runway for a third time. After the aircraft settled on the surface for the fourth and final time, the pilot concluded that he would not be able to stop before reaching the fence located just off the south end of the runway. At that point he decided to add full power in an attempt to clear the fence and complete the landing roll in the area beyond it. Although he got the aircraft off the ground, the landing gear caught on the fence and pulled the aircraft to the ground. Soon thereafter, the left wing collided with a tree and the aircraft came to rest.

According to the pilot, there was no evidence of any malfunction of the flight control system or the engine. He also stated that during the entire landing sequence, including during the time he attempted to "clear the fence," the wing flaps were in the fully deployed (down) position. In his narrative report, he also stated that he has now learned to execute a go-around if the wheels are not firmly planted by the time the aircraft reaches the second VASI (Visual Approach Slope Indicator).

Aircraft

Registration
N231EH
Reported as
Mooney M20K
Category
Airplane
Serial number
25-0179
Airframe hours
3,444
Engine
Continental TSIO-360-LB1B, 210 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Air Bound, LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 10, 2002 · 82 hours before
Departed
RXE · Driggs, ID
Destination
RXE · Rexburg, ID
Airport
RXE · Madison County, runway 17, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
39
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
January 24, 2002
Seat
Left
Flight hours
266 total · 107 in this make and model · 118 as pilot in command · 41 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
25 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N231EH · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.