# NTSB WPR15CA093: Flight Design Ctls, N559KC, Hanford, CA, January 25, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 25, 2015, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Hanford, CA - Coordinates: 36.189998, -119.373886 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1900&lon=-119.3739&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 10, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 90660 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15CA093 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90660/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90660 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA093 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate flare, which resulted in a hard 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: [Flight Design CTLS, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=060005B), [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was on a straight-in approach for landing during touchdown; the airplane landed hard and bounced. The pilot attempted to land the airplane for the second time; however, the airplane's nose dropped, resulting in a second bounce. The pilot made a decision to go around and added power. During the takeoff, the airplane bounced again and then lifted off. The second landing attempt resulted in another hard landing. The pilot initiated another go-around and landed the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. In the section titled "RECOMMENDATION" in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Report, form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had more experience flying this type and model of an airplane. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operations. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was on a straight-in approach for landing during touchdown; the airplane landed hard and bounced. The pilot attempted to land the airplane for the second time; however, the airplane's nose dropped, resulting in a second bounce. The pilot made a decision to go around and added power. During the takeoff, the airplane bounced again and then lifted off. The second landing attempt resulted in another hard landing. The pilot initiated another go-around and landed the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. In the section titled "RECOMMENDATION" in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Report, form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had more experience flying this type and model of an airplane. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N559KC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N559KC), registered now, S/N F-14-07-08, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTLS - Registry model: [Flight Design CTLS](https://openairdocs.org/model/flight-design-ctls) (registry code 060005B) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912IS2](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912is2) (registry code 55590, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: F-14-07-03 - Engines: ROTAX 012 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Kings County Ca Sheriff - Registered owner: Kings County Ca Sheriff - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Departed: PTV, PORTERVILLE, CA - Destination: HJO, Hanford, CA - Airport: HJO, Hanford Muni, runway 32, 5,179 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 5,300 total, 16 in this make and model, 4,900 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KHJO, 15 nm away ## 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 20150125001829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150125001829A), Jan 25, 2015: Flight Designs CTLS, Hanford, CA, Substantial damage. The airman traveled to tulsa, ok to receive 2 hours of training in the Flight Designs gmbh, Ctls and then to ferry the aircraft tulsa to Hanford, CA (hjo). The… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 4, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90660. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 649 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423179&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation – Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423180&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20%E2%80%93%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – View of engine strut (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 167 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423181&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20engine%20strut%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – View of engine strut (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20engine%20strut%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 – View of firewall (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423183&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20firewall%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 4 – View of firewall damage inside the cockpit (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 143 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423184&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20firewall%20damage%20inside%20the%20cockpit%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 5 – View of strut and firewall (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423185&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20strut%20and%20firewall%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 6 – View of firewall (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423186&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20firewall%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 7 – View of aircraft exterior (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 9, .PDF, 198 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423187&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20aircraft%20exterior%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.