# NTSB WPR11CA445: Aero SP Z O O AT-4 LSA, N334RA, San Diego, CA, September 10, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 10, 2011, 13:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: San Diego, CA - Coordinates: 32.82611, -116.972221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8261&lon=-116.9722&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 February 6, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81769 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA445 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81769/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81769 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA445 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and failure to maintain control during an attempted go-around. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero SP Z O O AT-4 LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=060004P), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: [Aero SP Z O O AT-4 LSA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=060004P), [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: [Aero SP Z O O AT-4 LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060004P), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Aero SP Z O O AT-4 LSA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=060004P), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Aero SP Z O O AT-4 LSA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=060004P), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Aero SP Z O O AT-4 LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=060004P), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during his landing approach, while about 3 feet above the ground, the airplane lost all lift and touched down hard. He said that the airplane bounced, and while airborne, he applied power to prevent a second hard landing, but the airplane rotated to the left. The airplane bounced a second time, and an air traffic controller told the pilot to go-around. The pilot applied full power, but he lost control, the airplane yawed further to the left, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage when the nose and right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid to a stop. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot's written statement, the approach for landing was normal. After the airplane crossed the runway numbers, the pilot initiated the flare. The pilot said that when the airplane was about 3 feet above the runway, it "lost all lift," and the pilot could not prevent a hard landing. The airplane bounced, and while airborne again, the pilot applied power to prevent a second hard landing, but the airplane began to weather vane to the left. The airplane bounced a second time, and a tower controller instructed the pilot to go-around. The pilot applied full power, the airplane yawed further to the left, and the left wing struck the ground. The nose and right main landing gear collapsed, the airplane slid to a stop, and the engine was stopped by the propeller striking the ground. The pilot attributed the loss of lift to a wind gust, and the loss of directional control to the slow speed of the airplane, and the high P-factor and torque from full engine power. The pilot reported that he was landing to the west, and that the winds were reported as being from the southwest at 10 knots, with no gusts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N334RA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N334RA-2015-04-13), registration cancelled 2015-04-13, S/N AT4-016, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERO SP Z O O AT-4 LSA - Registry model: [Aero SP Z O O AT-4 LSA](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-sp-z-o-o-at-4-lsa) (registry code 060004P) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AT4-016 - Airframe hours: 1376 - Engines: ROTAX 91282 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 2011, 50 hours before - Departed: SEE, San Diego, CA - Destination: SEE, San Diego, CA - Airport: SEE, Gillespie Field Airport, runway 27L, 2,738 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 241 total, 49 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: MYF, 9 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 20110910022509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110910022509A), Sep 10, 2011: Aero Sp Z O O AT-4 LSA, El Cajon, CA, Substantial damage. During the landing pilot reported a guest of wing causing him to loose control on landing aircraft went into the median and crashed the aircraft suffered… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 21, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81769. 459 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 459 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356999&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.