# NTSB WPR13CA387: TL Ultralight Stingsport, N9494, Burlington, WA, August 24, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 24, 2013, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Burlington, WA - Coordinates: 48.470554, -122.421669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4706&lon=-122.4217&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 19, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 87857 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA387 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87857/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA387 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare and unsuccessful attempt to correct a bounced landing, which resulted in a nose gear collapse ## 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: [TL Ultralight Sro STINGSPORT, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060001R), [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: [TL Ultralight Sro STINGSPORT, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=060001R), [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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [TL Ultralight Sro STINGSPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=060001R), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [TL Ultralight Sro STINGSPORT, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=060001R), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot rented the special light sport airplane from a fixed base operator for the purpose of conducting a personal flight to a non-towered airport, where he planned to practice landings and takeoffs. He entered a left traffic pattern for runway 11 at the destination airport, and conducted a normal touch-and-go landing and takeoff, with the intent of conducting at least one more touch-and-go on the same runway. He used the same flap and power settings for the second approach, but noted that the second approach was "slightly shallower than normal." After touchdown, the airplane bounced. The pilot maintained the pitch attitude, and the airplane touched down and bounced again. He then added power with the intent to abandon the landing, but the propeller struck the runway. The pilot reduced power and the airplane slid to a stop on the runway. The nose landing gear was collapsed aft, and penetrated the fuselage fuel tank, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot rented the special light sport airplane from a fixed base operator for the purpose of conducting a personal flight to a non-towered airport, where he planned to practice landings and takeoffs. He entered a left traffic pattern for runway 11 at the destination airport, and conducted a normal touch-and-go landing and takeoff, with the intent of conducting at least one more touch-and-go on the same runway. He used the same flap and power settings for the second approach, but noted that the second approach was "slightly shallower than normal." After touchdown, the airplane bounced. The pilot maintained the pitch attitude, and the airplane touched down and bounced again. He then added power with the intent to abandon the landing, but the propeller struck the runway. The pilot reduced power and the airplane slid to a stop on the runway. The nose landing gear was collapsed aft, and penetrated the fuselage fuel tank, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9494](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9494), registered now, S/N TLUSA155, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TL ULTRALIGHT STINGSPORT - Registry model: [TL Ultralight Sro STINGSPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/tl-ultralight-sro-stingsport) (registry code 060001R) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TLUSA155 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 453 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Arlington Flight Services - Registered owner: Arlington Flight Services - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 20, 2013, 6 hours before - Departed: BVS, Burlington, WA - Destination: BVS, Burlington, WA - Airport: BVS, Skagit Regional, runway 11, 5,478 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 16, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 163 total, 13 in this make and model, 111 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 7 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,900 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: BVS ## 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 20130824015949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130824015949A), Aug 24, 2013: Tl Ultralight Sro STINGSPORT, Burlington, WA, Substantial damage. While performing touch and go landings at skagit regional airport the pilot was on his second touch and go when he flared too high above the runway. His… 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.