# NTSB SEA93LA210: White BD-5, N273GW, Helena, MT, September 25, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 1993, 19:15 local (Sep 25, 1993, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Helena, MT - Coordinates: 46.529079, -112.20977 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5291&lon=-112.2098&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41776 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA210 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41776/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA210 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL AIRCRAFT WAS A FACTOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload (cause) ## Analysis DURING A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING, THE PILOT, WHO HAD ONLY FIVE HOURS EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL AIRCRAFT, ALLOWED THE AIRSPEED TO GET LOW. DUE TO THE LOW AIRSPEED, THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED HARD ONTO THE RUNWAY, AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SKIDDED OFF THE RUNWAY AND IMPACTED A RUNWAY LIGHT, WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL SYSTEM. SPARKS FROM THE LIGHT SYSTEM IGNITED FUEL THAT WAS LEAKING FROM THE DAMAGED FUEL SYSTEM, AND THE AIRCRAFT CAUGHT FIRE AND PARTIALLY BURNED. ## Factual narrative On September 24, 1993, at approximately 1915 mountain daylight time (MDT), an experimental White BD-5, N273GW, experienced a nose gear collapse while landing at Helena Regional Airport, Helena, Montana. The FAA certificated commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which was being conducted in the local traffic pattern, had departed the same airport about one hour and 15 minutes earlier. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was operating in visual meteorological conditions, and there was no report of an ELT transmission. According to the pilot, who only had a total of five hours flight time in this make and model aircraft, he allowed his airspeed to get low while attempting a touch-and-go landing. The low airspeed resulted in the aircraft dropping hard onto the runway, followed by a collapse of the nose gear. This resulted in the aircraft sliding down the runway on its nose section. As it slid, the aircraft swerved off the left side of the runway and into a runway light. The impact with the light severed a fuel line or fractured the right fuel tank, and sparks from the lighting system ignited the spilling fuel. The aircraft then caught fire resulting in substantial damage to its forward portion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N273GW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N273GW-2002-05-23), registration cancelled 2002-05-23, S/N GW1, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WHITE BD-5 - Registry model: [Wermling George A BD-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/wermling-george-a-bd-5b) (registry code 11307Q1) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: GW-1 - Airframe hours: 15 - Engines: ROTAX 503 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wermling, George A. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 1993, 15 hours before - Airport: HLN, Helena Regional, runway 27, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 550 total, 5 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 270° at 7 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HLN, 1 nm away ## 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 19930924036269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930924036269A), Sep 24, 1993: Amtrbd BEDEBD5, Helena, MT, Substantial damage. Too slow on flare. Stalled. Impact runway. Folded nose gear. Skidded off runway. Hit light. Fuel leak made fire. 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.