# NTSB WPR09CA271: S.O.C.A.T.A. Rallye 235, N315RA, Ontario, OR, May 23, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 23, 2009, 09:55 local (16:55 UTC) - Place: Ontario, OR - Coordinates: 44.020278, -117.01361 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0203&lon=-117.0136&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 October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73928 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA271 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73928/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73928 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA271 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged landing flare. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of any experience in the make and model airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [S.O.C.A.T.A. RALLYE 235E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=8400135), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [S.O.C.A.T.A. RALLYE 235E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8400135), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [S.O.C.A.T.A. RALLYE 235E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=8400135), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/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: [S.O.C.A.T.A. RALLYE 235E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8400135), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [S.O.C.A.T.A. RALLYE 235E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=8400135), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot, who was conducting a series of touch-and-go landings, allowed the airplane to balloon during the landing flare. The airplane then dropped in from about five feet above the runway, resulting in a hard landing on all three landing gear. The pilot then added power, took off, and continued in the traffic pattern for another landing. During the subsequent landing roll, the nose landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot, who had accumulated about 1,500 hours total flying time, had not flown this make and model airplane prior to this flight. ## Factual narrative The pilot, who was conducting a series of touch-and-go landings, allowed the airplane to balloon during the landing flare. The airplane then dropped in from about five feet above the runway, resulting in a hard landing on all three landing gear. The pilot then added power, took off, and continued in the traffic pattern for another landing. During the subsequent landing roll, the nose landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot, who had accumulated about 1,500 hours total flying time, had not flown this make and model airplane prior to this flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N315RA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N315RA-2012-08-23), registration cancelled 2012-08-23, S/N 13015, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: S.O.C.A.T.A. RALLYE 235 - Registry model: [S.O.C.A.T.A. RALLYE 235E](https://openairdocs.org/model/s-o-c-a-t-a-rallye-235e) (registry code 8400135) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 13015 - Airframe hours: 700 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Marlow And Lloyd Pounds - Registered owner: Marlow And Lloyd Pounds - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 2009, 0 hours before - Departed: ONO, Ontario, OR - Destination: ONO, Ontario, OR - Airport: ONO, Ontario Municipal Airport, runway 32, 5,210 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 31, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 1 in this make and model, 1,400 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 43 °F - Observed at: ONO ## 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 20090523007639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090523007639A), May 23, 2009: Socata RALLYE235E, Ontario, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) The airman had not operated an aircraft as pilot in command for a period of 6-years or received a flight review within that period without having any… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 2, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73928. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315162&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.