# NTSB WPR12CA103: Rockwell International S-2R, N4894X, Yellow Pine, ID, February 5, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 5, 2012, 12:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Yellow Pine, ID - Coordinates: 44.899723, -115.332778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8997&lon=-115.3328&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 April 2, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Boise FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82893 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82893/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82893 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA103 ## Probable cause The pilot did not reduce the airplane’s descent rate prior to the landing flare/touchdown, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Rockwell International S-2R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=7630202), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rockwell International S-2R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7630202), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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: [Rockwell International S-2R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7630202), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Rockwell International S-2R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7630202), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the landing at a remote snow-covered airstrip, the airplane touched down at a high descent rate, bounced back into the air, and then touched down again on the packed snow surface. As the airplane slowed and its weight transferred from the wings to the landing gear, one main landing gear attach fitting, which had been damaged during the initial hard touchdown, allowed its associated gear leg to partially collapse. The partial collapse of the landing gear resulted in the airplane veering to the right, whereupon the right wing impacted the snow bank along the side of the runway and sustained substantial damage. ## Factual narrative While landing at a remote snow-covered airstrip with about 350 gallons of fluid in the airplane's hopper, the pilot touched down at too great of a descent rate. The airplane bounced back into the air, and then touched down again on the packed snow surface. As the airplane began to slow and the airplane's weight began to be transferred from the wings to the landing gear, one main landing gear attach fitting, which had been damaged during the initial hard touchdown, allowed its associated gear leg to partially collapse. The partial collapse of the landing gear resulted in the airplane veering to the right, whereupon the right wing impacted the snow bank along the side of the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4894X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4894X-2024-09-03), registration cancelled 2024-09-03, S/N 2079R, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL S-2R - Registry model: [Rockwell International S-2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-s-2r) (registry code 7630202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2079R - Airframe hours: 10205 - Engines: Honeywell TPE 331-10 900 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Valley Air, LLC. - Registered owner: Valley Air Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 7, 2012 - Departed: U70, Cascade, ID - Destination: ID41, Yellow Pine, ID - Airport: ID41, Stibnite Mine, runway 24, 2,450 × 175 ft, snow ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 5, 2011; flight hours: 4,731 total, 1,520 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20120205002089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120205002089A), Feb 5, 2012: Rockwell International S-2R, Stibnite, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot flared the aircraft for landing but the rate of desent did not decrease. The aircraft hit the runway harder than intended and bounced back into the air.… ## Other investigations on N4894X (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR23LA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA211), Jun 3, 2023: Rockwell International S-2R (N4894X), Paul, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control on the takeoff roll, resulting in a runway excursion. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 1, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82893. 452 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 452 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363520&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.