# NTSB WPR14CA386: Cessna E162, N6035S, Bellingham, WA, September 21, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 21, 2014, 14:38 local (21:38 UTC) - Place: Bellingham, WA - Coordinates: 48.792778, -122.537498 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7928&lon=-122.5375&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 13, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 90148 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA386 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90148/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90148 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA386 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate flare and failure to maintain aircraft control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=060005E), [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060005E), [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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot planned to conduct a solo cross-country flight to another towered airport. His preflight inspection, engine start and runup, takeoff, and flight of the special light-sport airplane were all uneventful. When he neared the destination airport, he was instructed to enter the traffic pattern on the downwind leg for runway 16. He was subsequently cleared for "closed traffic" pattern work, and instructed to follow another airplane. The pilot informed the air traffic controller that he intended to do a full stop landing, and shortly thereafter, was instructed to turn base leg. He selected full flaps (40 degrees) for landing after turning final. According to the pilot, the wind was from 180 degrees at 7 knots, and the airplane was "just a little" to the right of the centerline for part of the last segment of the final approach. The pilot flared for landing, and the airplane touched down on the main gear, but then "ballooned" back airborne. The airplane bounced again, and then on the third bounce, the nose landing gear failed. The airplane slid to a stop on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage structure. During the bounce sequence, the pilot only used the control wheel to attempt to control and stop the bounces; he did not vary the throttle setting. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot planned to conduct a solo cross-country flight to another towered airport. His preflight inspection, engine start and runup, takeoff, and flight of the special light-sport airplane were all uneventful. When he neared the destination airport, he was instructed to enter the traffic pattern on the downwind leg for runway 16. He was subsequently cleared for "closed traffic" pattern work, and instructed to follow another airplane. The pilot informed the air traffic controller that he intended to do a full stop landing, and shortly thereafter, was instructed to turn base leg. He selected full flaps (40 degrees) for landing after turning final. According to the pilot, the wind was from 180 degrees at 7 knots, and the airplane was "just a little" to the right of the centerline for part of the last segment of the final approach. The pilot flared for landing, and the airplane touched down on the main gear, but then "ballooned" back airborne. The airplane bounced again, and then on the third bounce, the nose landing gear failed. The airplane slid to a stop on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage structure. During the bounce sequence, the pilot only used the control wheel to attempt to control and stop the bounces; he did not vary the throttle setting. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6035S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6035S-2019-03-13), registration cancelled 2019-03-13, S/N 16200155, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA AIRCRAFT CO E162 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Cessna 162](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-162) (registry code 060005E) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200-series) (registry code 17402, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 16200155 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 1384 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Rainier Flight Service LLC - Registered owner: Rainier Flight Service LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 8, 2014, 37 hours before - Departed: KRNT, Renton, WA - Destination: KBLI, Bellingham, WA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: KBLI, Bellingham Intl, runway 16, 6,701 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 32; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 42 total, 42 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: BLI ## 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 20140921018139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140921018139A), Sep 21, 2014: Cessna Aircraft Co 162, Bellingham, WA, Substantial damage. Student pilot was landing at Bellingham airport on a cross-country flight. During the last phase of flight the student flared for landing the main gear touched… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 12, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90148. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418839&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Written Statement (item 2, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418840&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Written%20Statement-Master.PDF - Airplane Damage Information (item 3, .PDF, 631 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418841&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Damage%20Information-Master.PDF - METARs (item 4, .PDF, 178 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418842&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=METARs-Master.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.