# NTSB SEA08CA121: Extra Flugzeugbau EA300/L, N272X, Great Falls, MT, May 4, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 3, 2008, 19:50 local (May 4, 2008, 01:50 UTC) - Place: Great Falls, MT - Coordinates: 47.482498, -111.370552 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4825&lon=-111.3706&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67944 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08CA121 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67944/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA121 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged landing flare. A contributing factor was the glare from the sun. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Extra Flugzeugproduktions EA 300/L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=70218DN), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/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: [Extra Flugzeugproduktions EA 300/L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=70218DN), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Landing gear system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Extra Flugzeugproduktions EA 300/L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md?model=70218DN), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Extra Flugzeugproduktions EA 300/L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=70218DN), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Extra Flugzeugproduktions EA 300/L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=70218DN), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that as he approached the airport, he was unable to see the runway due to the sun being low on the horizon until he was on a close left base for the 10,502 foot-long runway. The pilot stated that he was faster than normal as he leveled the airplane to make a wheel landing about halfway down the runway. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced and became airborne. As it settled back onto the runway, the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane veered to the left, struck a taxiway sign, and came to rest upright, adjacent to the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the undercarriage attach points in the fuselage sustained structural damage, and the right main landing gear was separated. No mechanical anomalies with the airframe or engine were reported. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that as he approached the airport, he was unable to see the runway due to the sun being low on the horizon until he was on a close left base for the 10,500 foot-long runway. The pilot stated that he was faster than normal as he leveled the airplane to make a wheel landing about halfway down the runway. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced and became airborne. As the airplane settled back onto the runway, the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane veered to the left, struck a taxiway sign, and came to rest upright adjacent to the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the undercarriage attach points in the fuselage sustained structural damage and the right main landing gear was separated. No mechanical anomalies with the airframe or engine were reported. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N272X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N272X-2009-04-29), registration cancelled 2009-04-29, S/N 1272, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Extra Flugzeugbau EA300/L - Registry model: [Extra Flugzeugproduktions EA 300/L](https://openairdocs.org/model/extra-flugzeugproduktions-ea-300-l) (registry code 70218DN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-l1b5) (registry code 41792, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1272 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: David I Heaps - Registered owner: David I Heaps - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Departed: MLS, Miles City, MT - Destination: KGTF, Great Falls, MT - Airport: KGTF, Great Falls International Airp, runway 21, 10,502 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; seat: rear; flight hours: 6,213 total, 15 in this make and model, 5,947 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 16 °F ## 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 20080504833459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080504833459A), May 4, 2008: Rhnflu EA300L, Great Falls, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 3, 2008, at 1950 mtn, an extra EA-300/L, N272X, registered to southeast aero sales inc., was flying from miles city, MT to Great Falls, MT when… 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.