WPR13CA028

NTSB accident investigation · Sport Plane Dynamics Lightning · Casa Grande, AZ · October 24, 2012

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
October 24, 2012, 10:40 local (17:40 UTC)
Place
Casa Grande, AZ
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N121LSport Plane Dynamics Lightning
Defining event
Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 31, 2013
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Western Pacific Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20121024022509A
Case key
85456

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to follow specified procedures for an aborted landing and loss of control during the attempt.

Findings · 4

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: configurationAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operationSport Plane Dynamics LIGHTNING: 1 caseAll aircraft: 80 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing flare with full flaps selected, the airplane landed hard and bounced back into the air. The pilot attempted to abort the landing by applying full power and retracting the flaps in an effort to regain airspeed. The pilot stated that he was unable to regain airspeed and kept the wings level until the airplane landed adjacent to the runway. Subsequently, the airplane struck a dirt berm and came to rest nose low. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing was structurally damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot operating handbook for the make/model of the accident airplane outlines a procedure for balked landings. The procedure states that the throttle should be placed full forward, the trim set as required, and flaps positioned to one-half and then retracted when operating above 80 miles per hour and 100 feet above ground level.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing flare with full flaps selected, the airplane landed hard and bounced back into the air. The pilot aborted the landing by applying full power and retracting the flaps in an effort to regain airspeed. The pilot stated that he was unable to regain airspeed, and kept the wings level until it landed adjacent to the runway. Subsequently, the airplane struck a dirt berm, and came to rest nose low. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right wing was structurally damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot operating handbook for the accident make/model airplane outlines a procedure for balked landings. The procedure states that throttle should be placed full forward, trim set as required, flags positioned to one-half, and retract flaps when above 80 miles per hour and 100 feet above ground level.

Aircraft

Registration
N121L
Reported as
Sport Plane Dynamics Lightning
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
45
Airframe hours
50
Engine
Jabiru 3300, 120 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Sport Plane Dynamics LLC
Registered owner
Sport Plane Dynamics LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · May 2, 2012 · 10 hours before
Departed
GEU · Glendale, AZ
Destination
CSZ · Casa Grande, AZ
Airport
CSZ · Casa Grande Municipal Airport, runway 05, 5,200 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
75
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
July 28, 2011
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,704 total · 50 in this make and model · 1,465 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
250° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
75 °F, dew point 39 °F
Altimeter
29.93 inHg
Observed at
CGZ

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 28, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 554 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N121L · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.