SEA08CA203

NTSB accident investigation · Snelling Zodiac · Rexburg, ID · September 17, 2008

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
September 17, 2008, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
Place
Rexburg, ID
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N826WSnelling Zodiac
Defining event
Approach: Abrupt maneuver
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 10, 2008
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
Case key
68951

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 private pilot's excessive use of the flight controls and improper landing flair, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent gear collapse.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: pitch controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operationSnelling William R CH 601 HD: 1 caseAll aircraft: 526 casesProbable cause
Action: incorrect action sequencePersonnel issues › Action/decision · CopilotSnelling William R CH 601 HD: 1 caseAll aircraft: 77 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The aircraft owner, who held a commercial pilot certificate, was seated in the right seat, and a private pilot was in the left seat, for an instructional/transition flight in the amateur built experimental airplane. The aircraft owner reported that they were landing when the private pilot reduced engine power on short final and the aircraft's nose dropped. The owner said the private pilot pulled the stick back "too aggressively" and then moved it rapidly forward and the airplane subsequently contacted the runway "quite hard." In response, the private pilot increased power and initiated a go-around. As the power increased the airplane's nose pitched up and the private pilot "shoved" the stick forward. The airplane contacted the runway in a 30-40 degree nose down attitude. After contacting the runway, the airplane's nose and right main gear collapsed, which resulted in structural damage to the wing assembly and forward fuselage. No preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane were reported.

Factual narrative

The first pilot, a commercial pilot seated in the right seat, and the second pilot, a private pilot seated in the left seat, were landing on runway 19 as part of an instructional/transition flight in the amateur built experimental airplane. The first pilot/aircraft owner reported that the second pilot reduced engine power on short final and the aircraft's nose dropped. The second pilot pulled the stick back "too aggressively" and then forward and the airplane subsequently contacted the runway "quite hard." In response, the second pilot increased power and initiated a go-around. As the power increased the airplane’s nose pitched up and the second pilot "shoved" the stick forward. The airplane contacted the runway in a 30-40 degree nose down attitude. After contacting the runway, the airplane's nose and right main gear collapsed, which resulted in structural damage to the wing assembly and forward fuselage. No preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane were reported.

Aircraft

Registration
N826W
Reported as
Snelling Zodiac (CH 601 HD)
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
63830
Airframe hours
389
Engine
Rotax 912, 80 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Timothy Egan
Registered owner
Egan Aviation Corporation
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Condition · May 8, 2008
Departed
U56 · Rigby, ID
Destination
KRXE · Rexburg, ID
Airport
KRXE · Rexburg Madison County Airport, 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 · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2
Last flight review
April 27, 2007
Seat
Right
Flight hours
618 total · 244 in this make and model · 33 in the last 90 days
Role
Pilot
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
September 3, 2008
Seat
Left
Flight hours
497 total · 1 in this make and model · 376 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
50° at 4 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None