# NTSB WPR10LA426: Grob-Werke G 120A, N865AF, Buckeye, AZ, August 24, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 24, 2010, 14:07 local (21:07 UTC) - Place: Buckeye, AZ - Coordinates: 33.420903, -112.68296 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4209&lon=-112.6830&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77069 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA426 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77069/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77069 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA426 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grob-Werke G 120A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1660208), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grob-Werke G 120A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=1660208), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: [Grob-Werke G 120A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1660208), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Grob-Werke G 120A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1660208), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that during his first solo flight the first touchdown was smooth; however, the airplane bounced and became airborne. The second touchdown was much firmer. On the third touchdown the airplane impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude, whereupon the nose gear assembly and several structural components in the composite fuselage broke. ## Factual narrative On August 24, 2010, about 1407 mountain standard time, a Grob-Werke G 120A, N865AF, operated by Airline Training Center, Goodyear, Arizona, made a hard bounced landing at the Buckeye Municipal Airport, Buckeye, Arizona. The airplane was substantially damaged. The student pilot, who was performing his first solo instructional flight, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and it originated from Buckeye about 1400. According to the student pilot, he performed three landings with his flight instructor and then was authorized to make his first solo flight. After takeoff, he performed a closed traffic pattern and attempted to land. The student opined that his first touchdown was relatively smooth. However, the airplane became airborne, and the second touchdown was "much firmer." On the third touchdown, described by the pilot as "very firm," the airplane impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude. The nose wheel impacted the ground before the main landing gear, and the nose gear collapsed. An examination of the airplane revealed the nose gear assembly and several structural components in the composite fuselage were broken. (For additional details regarding damage, see the report from Grob regarding its structural examination.) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N865AF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N865AF), registered now, S/N 85005, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GROB-WERKE G 120A - Registry model: [Grob-Werke G 120A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grob-werke-g-120a) (registry code 1660208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-series) (registry code 41568, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 85005 - Airframe hours: 5249 - Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-540 SER 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Airline Training Center Arizona Inc - Registered owner: Airline Training Center Arizona Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: AAIP, August 15, 2010, 14 hours before - Departed: BXK, Buckeye, AZ - Destination: BXK, Buckeye, AZ - Airport: BXK, Buckeye Municipal, runway 17, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 25; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 108 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg ## 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 20100824044089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100824044089A), Aug 24, 2010: Grob-Werke G 120A, Buckeye, AZ, Substantial damage. Student on first solo flight making first solo landing initially landed on all three gears but the aircraft bounced up off the runway. The aircraft contacted… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 29, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77069. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 866 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336177&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Ilustrated Parts Catalog (item 2, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336791&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Ilustrated%20Parts%20Catalog-Master.PDF - Grob Airplane Structural Examination (item 3, .PDF, 202 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336792&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Grob%20Airplane%20Structural%20Examination-Master.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.