# NTSB SEA08CA203: Snelling Zodiac, N826W, Rexburg, ID, September 17, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 17, 2008, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Rexburg, ID - Coordinates: 43.832788, -111.80677 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8328&lon=-111.8068&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 10, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68951 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08CA203 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68951/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA203 ## 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 NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Snelling William R CH 601 HD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=05606FO), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action sequence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Copilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Snelling William R CH 601 HD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md?model=05606FO), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Snelling William R CH 601 HD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=05606FO), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Snelling William R CH 601 HD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05606FO), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Snelling William R CH 601 HD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05606FO), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N826W-2013-05-15), registration cancelled 2013-05-15, S/N 63830, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Snelling Zodiac (CH 601 HD) - Registry model: [Snelling William R CH 601 HD](https://openairdocs.org/model/snelling-william-r-ch-601-hd) (registry code 05606FO) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 63830 - Airframe hours: 389 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; injuries: none; 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 - Pilot; injuries: none; 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 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.