# NTSB WPR11LA234: Hoskins Zenith, N34NH, Puyallup, WA, May 24, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 24, 2011, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Puyallup, WA
- Coordinates: 47.102222, -122.285552 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1022&lon=-122.2856&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 19, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79203
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA234
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/79203/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79203
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA234

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of experience in the accident airplane.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hoskins Joseph L ZENITH CH-701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05628LI), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hoskins Joseph L ZENITH CH-701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=05628LI), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hoskins Joseph L ZENITH CH-701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05628LI), [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: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Hoskins Joseph L ZENITH CH-701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05628LI), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Hoskins Joseph L ZENITH CH-701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05628LI), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Hoskins Joseph L ZENITH CH-701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05628LI), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he conducted two uneventful landings on a paved runway then conducted circles above the traffic pattern to familiarize himself with the newly built airplane. During the third landing onto a grassy area parallel to the paved runway, the pilot approached the landing area between 32 and 35 mph with the flaps fully retracted. About 10 feet above the grass, the pilot felt that the airplane was a little high and fast so he reduced power and pitched the nose up to slow the airplane. The nose suddenly dropped. The nosewheel dug into the ground and the airplane nosed over, coming to a rest inverted and substantially damaging the rudder, firewall, and wing struts. The pilot’s total flight experience was approximately 7 hours in the airplane make and model, with 4 hours in the accident airplane. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. During a telephone conversation, a representative of the manufacturer reported that the average approach speed for the airplane is between 45 and 50 mph, with a stall speed of about 35 mph with the flaps retracted.

## Factual narrative

On May 24, 2011, about 1400 Pacific daylight time, a newly built Hoskins Zenith CH-701, N34NH, sustained substantial damage when it landed hard at Pierce County Airport – Thun Field, Puyallup, Washington. The commercial pilot/owner, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The airplane was being operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The pilot reported that after two uneventful landings on a paved runway, he proceeded to circle the airport about 2,000 feet above the traffic pattern to familiarize himself with the airplane’s power settings. The pilot elected to conduct a third landing onto a grassy area parallel to the runway. The airplane approached the landing area at about 32-35 mph with the flaps retracted to the full up position. The pilot stated that about 10 feet above the ground, the airplane was a little high and fast. He reduced power and pitched up to slow the airplane when the nose of the airplane suddenly “dropped.” Subsequently, the airplane’s nosewheel dug into the ground and the airplane nosed over, coming to a rest inverted substantially damaging the rudder, firewall and wing struts. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot’s total flight experience was approximately 5,580 flight hours; of which, about 7 hours where in the airplane make and model and 4 in the accident airplane. During a telephone conversation, a Zenith Aircraft Corporation representative reported that due to the airplane being a homebuilt airplane, exact stall speeds cannot be determined by the manufacturer. Although, generally, the approach speed for the Zenith CH-701 is between 45-50 mph, with the stalling speed of about 35 mph with the flaps retracted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N34NH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N34NH-2013-02-22), registration cancelled 2013-02-22, S/N 7-6680, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HOSKINS ZENITH (CH-701)
- Registry model: [Hoskins Joseph L ZENITH CH-701](https://openairdocs.org/model/hoskins-joseph-l-zenith-ch-701) (registry code 05628LI) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 7-6680
- Airframe hours: 4
- Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hoskins Joseph L
- Registered owner: Hoskins Joseph L
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: PLU, Puyallup, WA
- Destination: PLU, Puyallup, WA
- Airport: PLU, Pierce County Airport-Thun Fld

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 81; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 5,579 total, 6 in this make and model, 5,400 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: PLU

## 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 20110524009059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110524009059A), May 24, 2011: Hoskins Joseph L ZENITH CH-701, Puyallup, WA, Substantial damage. On may 24, 201 at approximately 1400 PDT, aircraft experimental Hoskins zenith Z-CH701, was flying under 14 CFR part 91, in phase one of the experimental…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 3, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79203. 947 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 609 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352163&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Report - METARS (item 2, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356616&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report%20-%20METARS-Master.PDF
- Control Continuity Examination (item 3, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356608&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Control%20Continuity%20Examination-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 4, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356607&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation 2 - Pilot (item 5, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356615&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%202%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 6, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356720&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Zenith Representative (item 7, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356609&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Zenith%20Representative-Master.PDF
- Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 8, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352161&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.

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