SEA04LA040

NTSB accident investigation · Lancair LC42-550FG · Redmond, OR · February 10, 2004

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
February 10, 2004, 09:50 local (17:50 UTC)
Place
Redmond, OR
Injuries
4 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N6503CLancair LC42-550FG
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 28, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA-FSDO
FAA report
20040210001809A
Case key
58725

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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.

The pilot rated passenger's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Inadequate supervision by the pilot-in-command (CFI) and a taxiway sign were factors.

Analysis

The commercial pilot at the controls and flight instructor in the right seat reported that during the approach for landing, about four feet above ground level over the runway, the stall warning horn sounded and the commercial pilot "chopped the power." The aircraft rapidly descended to the runway and touched down slightly left of centerline and in a nose high attitude. After touch down, the commercial pilot added full power, however the aircraft veered to the left. At this time the flight instructor took control of the aircraft in an attempt to regain runway heading. The flight instructor not realizing at first that the commercial pilot had applied full power, called for him to reduce power. Power was reduced, however, the aircraft exited the runway surface traveling over gravel and snow. During the landing roll, the right wing collided with a taxi sign, the outboard section of the right wing flap separated at the two outboard flap hinges, and the right main landing gear tire separated from the gear leg. Both pilots reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time of the accident.

Factual narrative

On February 10, 2004, at 0950 Pacific standard time, a Lancair LC42-550FG, N6503C, registered to Columbia Aero LLC, operated by Lancair as a 14 CFR Part 91 business flight, veered off the runway during the landing roll at Roberts Field, Redmond, Oregon, and collided with a taxi sign. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot, flight instructor and two passengers were not injured. The flight departed from Bend, Oregon, about 10 minutes prior to the accident.

During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement from both the commercial pilot and flight instructor, it was reported that the commercial pilot was in the left seat and at the flight controls for the landing to runway 10. The commercial pilot stated that the approach was normal. When the aircraft was over the runway, about four feet above ground level, the stall warning horn sounded and he "chopped the power," and the aircraft rapidly descended to the runway. The aircraft touched down slightly left of runway centerline and in a nose high attitude. After the aircraft touched down the commercial pilot applied full power. The aircraft veered to the left, and at this time the flight instructor stated that he got on the rudder pedals and flight control in an attempt to regain runway heading. The flight instructor not realizing at first that the commercial pilot had applied full power, called for the commercial pilot to reduce power. Power was reduced, however, the aircraft exited the runway surface traveling over gravel and snow. During the landing roll, the right wing collided with a taxi sign, the outboard section of the right wing flap separated at the two outboard flap hinges, and the right main landing gear tire separated from the gear leg.

Both pilots reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time of the accident.

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.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Directional control - not maintainedPilot passengerCause
Supervision - inadequatePilot in command(cfi)Factor
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - airport sign/markerFactor

Aircraft

Registration
N6503C
Reported as
Lancair LC42-550FG
Category
Airplane
Serial number
42015
Airframe hours
60
Engine
Continental IO-550-N25, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Business · Part 91
Operator
Lancair Company
Registered owner
Columbia Aero LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · January 21, 2004 · 60 hours before
Departed
S07 · Bend, OR
Destination
RDM · Redmond, OR
Airport
RDM · Roberts Field, runway 10, 7,006 × 100 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 · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
63
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor, Airline transport, Flight engineer
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
July 28, 2002
Seat
Right
Flight hours
21,000 total · 400 in this make and model · 10,000 as pilot in command · 75 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Role
Other flight crew
Injuries
None

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
180° at 10 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
37 °F, dew point 21 °F
Altimeter
30.39 inHg
Observed at
RDM

FAA reports on this event · 1

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